Monday, August 18, 2014

Home Automation: facing Google and Apple, Samsung buys SmartThings – Clubic

The South Korean group acquired the company specializes in the connected objects SmartThings. She joined the Open Innovation Center and Samsung will continue to offer its own tools.
Samsung will make the purchase of SmartThings, a start-up specializing in home automation. This is particularly skilled in the development of a platform using multiple radio standards capable of controlling objects connected. It offers an application on iOS and Android to have their hands on these devices within a home.

The company already has strong partners such as Belkin, Philips and Sonos. Therefore SmartThings will be integrated into the Open Innovation Center of Samsung. The giant will be able to diversify its offer and go beyond simple refrigerators or lamps connected. It will also be able to offer products that can be programmed to act this (eg lighting fixtures when an owner enters his home.)

In the field, however, Samsung safe do since its direct competitors have already invested in the field. Google, for example, acquired Nest Labs and its internal thermostat for $ 3.2 billion. For its part, Apple is also part of this race in particular following the publication of an API called HomeKit authorizing the development of controllable devices from a terminal of the brand.

In response to these competitors size, Samsung has already engaged in the battle of standardization by joining Intel in the Open Interconnect Consortium. She faces Google and Apple, each with their own standards, but also to Microsoft, whose name is associated with another consortium – the Allseen Alliance -. Also supported by LG and Qualcomm

Despite the existence of this open conflict, Samsung scores a field of automation objects connected with the acquisition of SmartThings. The amount is not revealed by stakeholders but experts suggest a trade to the tune of $ 200 million.

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