Converging Technical Lifestyles - UK : Market Research Report

Converging Technical Lifestyles - UK

Published by: Mintel International Group Ltd.

Published: Oct. 1, 2007 - 123 Pages

Issues in the Market: Main issues; Definition; Abbreviations
Market in Brief: Convergence field wide open…; …but the race will be a long one…; …with broadband the engine for all success; Barriers to take-up led by cost, complexity and quality…; …with lack of back-up yet to raise its head; Convergence or connection?; Digital divide shifting from age to affluence; Convergence bundled through the back door; PCs may stay in the background; TV leads through position, not power; Games consoles underachieving; Smart choices in the mobile sector
Insights and Opportunities: Compatibility, not competition; Give remotes the simple touch; Consoles need to hit the ‘new game’ button; Don’t forget the home phone
Internal Market Environment: Key points; Access to technology; Britons spoiled for platform choice; Take-up of technology; Mobile gets head start in convergence stakes…; …but broadband set to put TV and PC back in the race; Satellite v Freeview; Barriers to use; Risk of online traffic jams; Complexity of use; The consumption environment; Limited (battery) life-expectancy; Technology issues; Broadband connection speeds; Internet capacity; Spectrum access; Next-generation Networks; Wi-Fi and WiMAX; Faster speeds, even wider coverage; Service bundling; Regulation and legislation; Unbundling leads to bundling; Broadening the spectrum for convergence; Fights over rights?; Price and competition; Usage caps
Broader Market Environment: Key points; Demographic trends; Bridging the digital divide; Approaching a third aged 55+; DTT an important technology for convergence among older groups; Converging upmarket; Convergence flies the nest…; …but smaller homes require fewer devices; Economic climate; Consumers have cash to spend on converged devices; Lack of interest; Consumer mobility
Strengths and Weaknesses in the Market: Strengths; A connected country; Development of wireless technologies; Service bundling; Growing technological awareness; Strong consumer electronics market; Weaknesses; Vulnerability to technical failure; Consumer caution; Concerns over performance and complexity; Digital divides; Digital rights management; PCs/the Internet; Strengths; Weaknesses; Interactive television; Strengths; Weaknesses; Games consoles; Strengths; Weaknesses; Mobile phones; Strengths; Weaknesses
Case Studies: IPTV: Joost; Track record and funding create a potential pace-setter; Open access by year-end; Demographic targeting of adverts; A window on the TV world?; Interactive television: Sky Active; A video magazine; An alternative model of convergence - revenue convergence; Games console: Xbox 360; Connected hub or converged device?; Re-inventing the walled garden; Xbox versus Apple TV?; Mobile phone: Nokia N95; First sighting of GPS; Web browsing and email; Sound on vision…; …but mobile’s memory and life limits remain issues to resolve
PCs and the Internet: Key points; The recent past; OK computer - consumers get with the program; Internet age created the possibility of convergence…; …but broadband made it reality; Escape from the bedroom; The present; Download trends add video to audio; Challenging the console: episode one; Changing focus: from distribution to communication; The future; Broadband access to widen further...; …and sit at the heart of convergence - on all devices; Challenging the console: episode two; Where next: Centre stage or behind the scenes?; PCs and the Internet: the consumer; No substitute for Internet access; Consumers dislike being chained to their desk(top); Activities done through PCs; Not all Internet users are early adopters; Some functions fit together better than others; Future convergence: a two-way street?; Laptops lead in convergence stakes; Activities done through PCs by demographic analysis; PCs not doin’ it for the kids; Do women want divergence, not convergence?; Broadsheet brands; Older children hold their parents’ hands
Interactive TV: Key points; The recent past; Rise of the red button; Penetration driven by choice, not necessity; Freeview growth shows price is still an issue; New sets for new services; The present; iTV reaching those on the wrong side of the digital divide; Some services more interactive than others; iTV convergence centres on the living room; The future; Increased interactivity for DTT; Putting the TV in IPTV; Converge or die?; Interactive TV: the consumer; Strong links between Internet and multichannel TV…; …and particularly cable; Interactive activities done through the TV; TV-based interactivity more ‘passive’ than ‘active’; New services gaining popularity; Interactive activities by TV reception; Cable viewers look most receptive to online convergence; Most popular interactive activities through TV by demographic analysis; Next most popular interactive activities through TV by demographic analysis; iTV can bring convergence to women…; …but not so much to the young
Games Consoles: Key points; The recent past; Expanding the field of play; Consoles wield convergence clout; The present; Convergence now; Unfulfilled potential; Price as important as capabilities; The future; More walled gardens?; Static games consoles: the consumer; Focus on pure gamers obscures convergence potential; Can Wii fix it? Maybe Wii can; Premature ageing a problem for the sector; Most important static console features; Little convergence interest among the current console crowd…; …but newcomers are even less convergence-aware; Handheld games consoles: the consumer; Handhelds more popular than statics; More positive picture for PSP; Super Mario Brothers to the rescue?; Handheld console features; Music, video and gaming already converged - and popular; PSP for individuals, DS for communities?; Mobile Phones; Key points; The recent past; Market reaches saturation point; UK goes 3G; Operators cannot hold for call revenues; Demand for data gathering pace; The present; Internet goes mobile…; …as does TV…; …but relevance and cost remain barriers to growth; The future; Falling prices to boost data traffic; 3G or not 3G?; Convergence between the phone and PDA?; Mobile phones: the consumer; Main functions widely used…; …but mobile users concerned about cost…; …and security; Most popular activities done through mobile phones; Next most popular activities done through mobile phones; Two types of mobile convergence - business and pleasure; Mobile convergence available to all…; …and on all networks
The Consumer: Enthusiasm for New Technology: Key points; Type of technology buyer; Convergence set to be a slow sell; Type of technology buyer by demographic analysis; Early adopters: young, male, affluent; Replacers: older, female and skint; Type of technology buyer by technology ownership; Satellite today, Freeview tomorrow; Early Adopters stand back in static console market; Smart money on the smartphone; Type of technology buyer by interactive activities done on TV; Type of technology buyer by activities done through TV; Type of technology buyer by activities done through mobile phones
The Consumer: In-home Convergence: Key points; Attitudes towards in-home technology; Benefits of convergence already understood; Biggest barrier to take-up is not an insurmountable one…; …although consumer jury is still out on IPTV quality; Targeting opportunities; PC/Online Convergers; Console Convergers; Frustrateds; Non-Convergers; Target groups by demographic analysis; PC man is gadget fan; Consoles strong on value; Young not immune to frustrations of technology; Non-Convergers older and mid-market; Attitudes towards in-home technology by type of technology buyer; Early adopters set convergence pace…; …with the Cautious and Replacers still waiting for results
The Consumer: Mobile Convergence: Key points; Attitudes towards portable technology; Significant resistance towards mobile convergence…; …with technical issues to the fore; A solid core are pro-convergence…; …but non-core functions do not determine purchasing patterns; Targeting opportunities; Convergers; Frustrateds; Non-Convergers; Portable technology target groups by demographic analysis; Affordability drives mobility; Frustrated by static standards; Non-Convergers worth pursuing; Attitudes towards portable technology by type of technology buyer
Forecast of Consumer Demand for Converging Technologies: Nearly 100,000 ready for converging products in 2008

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Converging Technical Lifestyles - UK

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