Smart home technology is becoming increasingly popular in several affluent nations.

A large portion of homeowners from the United States and parts of Europe appear eager to purchase interactive security or other smart-home solutions, such as for energy management.

In a recent survey, Strategy Analytics (News - Alert) found that households in France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and the United States are seriously interested in paying for remote monitoring, control and professionally monitored interactive security services.

More than 50 percent of broadband households taking part in the survey – and which now do not have security – “are willing to pay for professionally monitored services if combined with monitoring and control capabilities,” the survey said. Also, many consumers in these areas would favorably consider paying for remote healthcare and energy management services – depending on the prices.

Based on survey results, it appears the desire to install smart-home services is highest in the United States, United Kingdom, Germany and Italy, and is lower in France.

“The percentage of broadband households with both the interest in and willingness to pay for selected connected home solutions is higher than expected,” Bill Ablondi, director, Smart Home Strategies advisory service, said in a Strategy Analytics statement. “We believe that growing smartphone and tablet use is accelerating consumers’ desire to be connected to everyone and everything important in their lives, including their family and homes.”

It was also found that remote healthcare services have “the greatest potential” in Italy if monthly fees are less than $10 a month.

According to the survey results, among the residents who want smart-home services, 55 percent are ready to acquire self-monitored security and 54 percent are ready to acquire professionally monitored security, according to a report from CBR Online. Some 47 of those questioned in the category want remote monitoring and control, and 30 percent want remote energy management, Strategy Analytics reported.

Also, some 25 percent appear to be ready to shop at retail home improvement stores for smart home devices and services, Strategy Analytics added.

The firm’s survey is called, “Smart Home Systems: Consumer Adoption and Attitudes.”

In another recent statement, from the “Smart Home Systems and Services Forecast: Global Total" report, Strategy Analytics says that 16 percent of broadband households in the world will have at least one smart home system by 2017, according to TMCnet.

There appears to be increasing demand globally for monitoring and control services offered by wireless carriers, broadband, energy and security service providers, the second report adds. Companies cited in the report include: ADT, AT&T, British Gas, Rogers Communications, SFR (News - Alert), Swisscom, Time Warner Cable and Verizon, as well as remote entertainment control and smart appliance providers LG and Whirlpool.

The second report forecasts that interactive security services, integrated entertainment and home controls are “the major revenue generators followed by self-monitoring systems and services.”

"Home energy management will be a market driver in some Western European countries, such as Germany, where Deutsche Telekom and its partners E.ON (News - Alert), EnBW, eQ-3, Meile, Samsung, tadoo and Winkle are addressing smart home opportunities with the QIVICON offering. Interactive security from Alarm.com and Comcast (News - Alert) in addition to ADT will remain the leading application in the US market and entertainment-related solutions will be popular globally," Ablondi added in a company statement carried by TMCnet.

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