Home wireless networks are now more common than home Ethernet networks

• Increasing wireless usage in the home will lead to wider acceptance of new applications, according to a new study by Parks Associates.
• More households now use Wi-Fi networking than Ethernet, a trend that will lead to an explosion of new applications, according to a survey released this week by Parks Associates.
• "This is truly a watershed finding," John Barrett, director of research at Parks Associates, said in a statement.
• "Establishing a solid base of wireless home networks is crucial for the adoption of next-generation services.
• Many applications such as home control, home security, or even multimedia distribution are impractical with an Ethernet-only network."
• Barrett tied the increasing adoption of Wi-Fi in the home to cable and DSL broadband providers encouraging users to deploy wireless networks.
• "Service providers have been aggressive in bundling wireless home networks with broadband service over the last year," Barrett said.
• "It's a smart move that will ultimately pay off for them because they will be best positioned to offer next-generation services to the consumer."
• In the U.S., 52 percent of networked households now use Wi-Fi, the survey found.
• About 50 percent use Ethernet with some households using both, according to the survey.