Consumers Report High Levels of Satisfaction Purchasing Home Technology, Finds CEA Survey; Study Shows Significant Levels of Regret Among New Home Buyers Who Did Not Purchase Home Technologies.

ARLINGTON, Va. -- Consumers who purchased technology, such as home theater and monitored security systems for their new home exhibit high levels of satisfaction, according to research recently released by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA(R)). According to the "New Home Buyers and Technology Purchases" study, overall satisfaction is above 75 percent for all the technologies tested: owners of home theater systems have the highest satisfaction rate at 89 percent. The study was presented by CEA's Director of Research Joe Bates at the Pacific Coast Builders Conference in San Francisco, California.

CEA's study showed that interest and awareness of home technologies are continuing to skyrocket with high percentages of near-term buyers saying they likely will purchase technologies. Sixty-one percent of consumers said they are interested in purchasing a monitored security system and 58 percent of those surveyed are interested in purchasing an energy management system. Those same near-term buyers overwhelmingly want a professional to install those technologies.

"Our study shows that new home buyers increasingly are demanding the latest and greatest in technologies for their home," says Bates. "It's also clear that home builders would benefit by partnering with professional installers to provide their customers with the best possible service."

The study found that many new home buyers regret not purchasing various new technologies. For example, 32 percent of new home buyers wished they had purchased an energy management system while 23 percent regretted not purchasing a multi-room audio system or a home theater system at the time they purchased their home.

"New Home Buyers and Technology Purchases" (June 2006) was conducted in May 2006. It was designed and formulated by CEA Market Research, the most comprehensive source of sales data, forecasts, consumer research and historical trends for the consumer electronics industry. Please cite any information to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). The complete study is available free to CEA member companies. Non-members may purchase the study for $499 at http://www.ebrain.org/crs/crs_all.asp.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the consumer technology industry through technology policy, events, research, promotion and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA represents more than 2,100 corporate members involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of audio, video, mobile electronics, wireless and landline communications, information technology, home networking, multimedia and accessory products, as well as related services that are sold through consumer channels. Combined, CEA's members account for more than $125 billion in annual sales. CEA's resources are available online at www.CE.org, the definitive source for information about the consumer electronics industry.

CEA also sponsors and manages the International CES - Defining Tomorrow's Technology. All profits from CES are reinvested into industry services, including technical training and education, industry promotion, engineering standards development, market research and legislative advocacy.

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