Vendor Profile: Chumby

This IDC study looks at Chumby Industries, a San Diego?based start-up that makes and sells for the home a tabletop networked device that has embedded network media and data applications. Along with the device, Chumby has developed a network of customizable widgets that deliver media and data to the device.

"As much as any start-up, Chumby has a difficult road ahead, but at least they're on the right road. Light devices in the home with minimal browsing capabilities, drawing from online services, and acting independently from the PC will be a growing market. However, they will require significant integration of hardware and online services, and other vendors could take a cue from what Chumby has done," says Jonathan Gaw, research manager at IDC's Consumer Markets: Home Networking program.