Introducing ‘Digital Living Services’.

Another way to say ‘convergence.’

A fact of communications in 2007 — and far beyond — is the blurring of lines between different media. “Convergence” is one word for it. But Parks Associates has come up with another phrase to describe the phenomenon, one which includes the social aspects of the new reality: “digital living services.”

In its “Digital Living 2006 Forecasts” report, Parks forecasts that rapid consumer adoption of Internet and mobile communications products will boost US spending in digital living services to nearly $300 billion by 2010.

“Recent investment and developments in such services as broadband access and television, including the shift to digital and IP delivery of communications and entertainment services, have given rise to a host of new digital living products and services,” said Kurt Scherf of Parks. “As we close the first decade of this century, the companies and service providers that can build strong links between access, content, and end-user platforms will capture a substantial share of this multibillion dollar industry.”

Revenues for digital entertainment services — including gaming, music and on-demand video — will be among the strongest-growing categories over the next five years. The influx of these services will in turn drive the sale of media centralization and distribution solutions.

Digital living services will be fueled by adoption of broadband and communications services, which will account for $229 billion in revenues by 2010.

Between 2006 and 2010, revenues from media servers will grow 140%, and the number of connected entertainment solutions will increase substantially during the same time period.

In fact, by 2010, Parks analysts reckon more than 30 million households will have a network that bridges numerous products and extends the entertainment experience to multiple rooms in the home.

Approximately one-quarter of the country will not only be livin’ large — they will be living digitally.

For more information at http://www.emarketer.com