Ericsson’s 10 Hot Consumer Trends for 2015: Connectivity Integrated Into Daily Life

Stockholm — Ericsson ConsumerLab’s annual report shows that consumers want technology and connectivity to be integrated into all facets of daily life

Consumers are becoming more comfortable with ideas that once seemed beyond imagination – like robots in the home and mind sharing

In 2015, consumers will watch streamed video more often than broadcast TV

In the fourth edition of its annual trend report, Ericsson ConsumerLab presents the hottest consumer trends for 2015 and beyond.

Michael Bjorn, Head of Research, Ericsson ConsumerLab, says: “Services and products that quite recently seemed beyond imagination are now easily accepted and believed to rapidly reach the mass market. With only five years until 2020, the future really does seem closer than ever before.”

The insights in the report “10 hot consumer trends for 2015 and beyond” mainly come from Ericsson ConsumerLab’s global research program and statistically represent the views of 85 million frequent internet users.

These are the ten trends for 2015 and beyond:

1. The streamed future. 2015 will be historic as more people will watch streamed video on a weekly basis than broadcast TV.
2. Helpful homes. Consumers show high interest in having home sensors that alert them to water and electricity issues, or when family members come and go.
3. Mind sharing. Smartphone owners would like to use a wearable device to communicate with others directly through thought – and believe this will be mainstream by 2020.
4. Smart citizens. Consumers believe traffic volume maps, energy use comparison apps and real-time water quality checkers will be mainstream by 2020.
5. The sharing economy. Smartphone owners are open to renting out their spare rooms, household appliances and leisure equipment as it is convenient and can save money.
6. The digital purse. 80 percent of smartphone owners believe the smartphone will replace their entire purse by 2020.
7. My information. 56 percent of smartphone owners would like all internet communication to be encrypted.
8. Longer life. Smartphone owners see cloud-based services of various kinds giving them the potential to live healthier and longer lives.
9. Domestic robots. Consumers are welcoming the idea of having domestic robots that could help with everyday chores and believe this will be common in households by 2020.
10. Children connect everything. 46 percent of smartphone owners say that children will expect all objects to be connected when they are older.  (PR Newswire)