New research from Parks Associates found 7%-9% of U.S. broadband households with security cameras. More than four in 10 owners (44%) access or control their devices remotely daily or almost daily, according to Parks, which presented its findings April 7 at the ISC West security industry conference in Las Vegas.
The desire for greater home safety and security along with the low cost, small footprint and comparatively easy installation of the latest generation of IP-based cameras is fueling consumers’ interest in and purchase of the cameras. Many are first-time buyers, Parks highlighted in an excerpt from its ¨Delivering Peace of Mind: Connected Home Devices & Sensors.¨
Driving Households with Security Cameras
“Safety and security are two key drivers for consumer adoption of smart home devices, and networked cameras are among the leading products with strong security value propositions,” said Parks’ research analyst Brad Russell in a press release. “We estimate slightly more than half of the networked cameras bought in 2015 are for first-time buyers, so these products are spearheading the growing adoption of smart home solutions.”
Additional report highlights include:
- More than 60% of U.S. broadband households with security cameras acquired the cameras through a home security system or a home control system that controls multiple devices.
- One-third of networked security cameras were acquired as a stand-alone product, a slight decline from 2014, when 36% of networked camera owners indicated that they purchased the product as a stand-alone device and not as part of a home control or home security acquisition.
- Four to five percent of U.S. broadband households report buying a networked security camera in 2015, which includes first-time buyers, replacement buyers, and additional IP camera purchases.
- Nearly one-half of networked cameras are installed by the owner or by a friend or family member.
Households with security systems are much more likely than those without to own a networked camera, Russell added. “Among U.S. broadband households with professional security monitoring, 32% also own a networked security camera. These devices can add an additional layer of protection to a system at a relatively low cost, so security-minded consumers have been good targets to market these products.”
Parks defines networked cameras as any camera that can be accessed from a smartphone, tablet or computer. This includes cameras included in wired DVR/camera bundles, as well as those sold by managed security services companies.
“There is a big change between network camera owners and intenders in terms of channel of purchase,” Russell said. “Only 6% of current owners report that they acquired their network camera as part of a home control system, while 43% of those intending to purchase a networked camera intend to acquire it as part of a planned acquisition of a home control system.”
