Annual shipments of remote access and control thermostats that allow consumers to adjust temperature in homes via a smartphone or tablet will quadruple by 2017 as consumers aim for increased comfort in their residences, according to a report from IMS Research.
According to the IMS study, approximately 3 percent of the 38 million thermostats shipped globally in 2012 gave consumers the ability to remotely adjust the temperature and other comfort settings in their homes through a smartphone or tablet. The market for remote access and control thermostats was forecast to climb a hefty 46 percent in 2013 to an estimated 1.9 million units, and continue to expand annually over the next several years.