New research company to focus on convergence

Stuart Corner
Wednesday, 04 April 2007 08:11

IT Industry - Market

Connection Research, formerly a division of Connection Magazines, has been launched as an independent entity focussing on the convergence of information and communications technologies in key areas like the connected home.

According to its research director, Graeme Philipson, "We have reached a key inflection point where diverse technologies such as data communications, digital television, consumer electronics, personal and enterprise computing, home entertainment, domestic and industrial cabling and broadband networking are coming together. Yet vendors and users alike are struggling to understand the technologies and how they interact."
 
He contends that many analysts groups are looking at specific industry sectors, such as information technology, communications, home entertainment, or the building industry, but that none have placed themselves at the intersection of these fast-converging sectors.

Connection Research promises to "shed light on convergence by forecasting the velocities and directions in which emerging technologies are heading, and predicting consumers' attitudes and buying habits."

 According to Philipson, Connection Research's methodology differs from that used by other research firms. "Its demand side approach surveys users and consumers rather than vendors and point-of-sale outlets, so Connection Research is forecasting rather than reporting.

"We are surveying the people who really matter: people who buy the technology. Most research surveys cover people who sell the technology, and report on market size and market share, but this is only rear-view mirror data. By asking consumers what they are doing, and about brand awareness and preferences and influencers, we are better able to forecast what's going to happen in the industry."