Why Bluetooth speakers are the smart choice for the smart home

Portable speakers that sync with tablets, smartphones, PCs and TVs are already a huge hit among consumers and every Consumer Technology Association (formerly the Consumer Electronics Association) study highlights that they're high up on the average shopper's tech wishlist.

The Technavio report highlights this simplicity as one of the reasons for their surging popularity but also points out that as homes get smarter and as devices start to blur lines in terms of use -- for example smart light bulbs that double as Bluetooth speakers are already finding an audience -- wireless speakers will become a central component of the connected home and expects sales to increase by 33% between now and 2020 meaning they will be a device category worth roughly $10 billion annually.

"Bluetooth speakers offer a multitude of benefits making them popular among consumers. These devices need no wiring, consume less space when compared to home theaters, and run on batteries, thus making them suitable for outdoor purposes. They promise durability, hassle-free maintenance, and faster functionalities. All these factors are propelling the demand for Bluetooth speakers, which in turn, is likely to contribute towards market growth," says Ujjwal Doshi, a lead analyst at Technavio for consumer electronics research