Parks Associates: Middleware Solutions Provide the Glue for Multimedia Home Networks

Business Wire, Nov 23, 2004

DALLAS -- Over one-third of U.S. Internet households recognize the value of a multimedia home network specifically as it relates to music, according to Unifying Home Media Platforms & Content, a forthcoming Parks Associates report dedicated to the middleware/software market in consumer entertainment. Of these households, 39% see high value in the ability to search for and play individual songs from a variety of different devices on the network, and 32% value these abilities in regard to full-length albums, in both cases emphasizing broad access to locally stored content.

"Consumers understand the value proposition of a multimedia home network that connects various PCs and consumer electronics and allows easy access to digital content," said Yuanzhe (Michael) Cai, a senior analyst at Parks Associates. "These conditions will create market demand for multimedia network solutions such as connected digital media servers, digital media adapters, and consumer electronics with integrated networking capabilities."

On the industry side, the formation of the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) and Intel(R) NMPR (Networked Media Product Requirements) guidelines will help grow this industry and promote the development of interoperable software/middleware solutions, according to Unifying Home Media Platforms & Content.

"Software and middleware solutions provide the glue for a multimedia home network, but for the most part, solutions from different vendors can talk only to the PC and not to each other," Cai said. "Recent events, including the formation of the DLNA, are encouraging and indicate the industry is serious in addressing these problems."

Unifying Home Media Platforms & Content will identify the essential product categories, important functionalities, applicable platforms, and key players for consumer-oriented media middleware/software solutions. It will also provide an analysis of total available market for middleware solutions and consumer perspectives regarding media content storage, control, distribution, and management. For more information about this study, please visit http://www.parksassociates.com or contact Parks Associates at 972-490-1113 or sales@parksassociates.com.

About Parks Associates: Parks Associates is a market research and consulting firm focused on all product and service segments that are "digital" or provide connectivity within the home. The company's expertise includes home networks, digital entertainment, consumer electronics, broadband and Internet services, and home systems.

Founded in 1986, Parks Associates creates research capital for companies ranging from Fortune 500 to small start-ups through market reports, multiclient studies, consumer research, workshops, and custom-tailored client solutions. Parks Associates also hosts Fall Focus and co-hosts CONNECTIONS(TM) (in partnership with the Consumer Electronics Association) each year. http://www.parksassociates.com