International.
Smart home devices, such as Amazon's voice-activated speaker, Echo and Google's Nest Protect smart smoke detector, have led big business, marketplace firm Juniper reported.
New data released indicates that sales of smart home hardware and services would reach $83 billion this year. That figure is expected to double over the next four years, reaching $195 million in 2021.
The companies declared to lead the charge are Alphabet (Google's parent company), Amazon, Apple and Samsung, according to Juniper. The research firm called those companies the "Big Four" and said they will "further consolidate their positions" as leaders in the coming years.
Smart home hardware and services span a wide range of categories, including entertainment, automation, healthcare, and connected devices. The fastest growing areas over the next five years are expected to be home automation and smart appliances.
Such devices in those categories would include the Google smart speaker and Google Home Assistant and Philips' Hue wireless dimming kit, which allows people to use an app to dim their lights and turn them on and off.
