Category: Stories

SmartThings Partner Spotlight: How Aeotec Keeps Customers Connected

Since 2013, we’ve proudly partnered with Aeotec, the leading maker of high-quality, everyday smart home products. What’s even more exciting is that their products, like the Aeotec Smart Home Hub, are exclusive and compatible with the SmartThings App, and connect to Works with SmartThings-certified devices, including Z-Wave, Zigbee, or Wi-Fi devices. We sat down with Aeotec to discuss how their products work with SmartThings — and how they keep users connected to their homes. Here’s what we learned.

Aeotec Smart Home Hub

First things, first. What do you need in order to set up a smart home with Aeotec and SmartThings?

All you need is the Aeotec Smart Home Hub, which acts as the brain of your smart home, and Aeotec devices such as Actuators – light switches, cameras, smart doorbells, alarm systems, etc. – and Smart Sensors for security, home energy-use monitoring, and more. Simply download the SmartThings app and follow the app’s step-by-step instructions for connecting the device.

That’s great! What are the benefits of using Aeotec and SmartThings?

A solid and reliable smart home! Using the SmartThings app, you can automate and control all of Aeotec’s smart devices and products from hundreds of other brands to build a system that works for you and your needs.

Can Aeotec-connected devices be controlled from anywhere? 

Our app lets you easily control and monitor Aeotec devices no matter where you are. You can also do so with other smart home appliances like Samsung TVs, refrigerators, cooktops, washers and dryers, AC, air purifiers, and more.

What about compatibility? Can you control devices from various manufacturers with SmartThings? 

Yes! The SmartThings app lets you personalize your smart home. For example, you can use Aeotec products with Samsung devices or Z-Wave sensors with Zigbee light bulbs.

Last question. Will the Aeotec Smart Home Hub support Matter in the future?

Yes, the Aeotec Smart Home Hub supports Matter and is certified as a Thread border router. Matter will be the de-facto standard in every home, offering consumers interoperability between devices, flexibility, and more choices when purchasing connected home devices.

Thank you, Aeotec! 

Learn more about how Aeotec works with SmartThings here, and stay tuned for more partner spotlights on our blog and Q&As with our innovative partners on Twitter

Samsung “Does the SmartThings” at CES 2023

We brought “Calm” to CES 2023, with an up-close look at how SmartThings can seamlessly integrate into your daily lives through our latest innovations. While many of our announcements stood out among exhibitors, the new SmartThings Station received the most buzz and excitement from both the media and industry. Want to know more? Read on for all of our highlights and stand-out announcements.

Bringing Calm to Our Connected World

We believe your smart home should work for you — and create a sustainable, safe, convenient (and even fun) living environment. While we have big dreams for what a calm connected world looks like, we demonstrated it at CES through the onboarding experience. In 2023, when you buy a Samsung device, SmartThings will simply ask you if you want to add it to your connected home. Instead of several steps to onboard the device, you only need to answer yes or no, making it more convenient for you to experience connected, smart living.

Hub Everywhere

Furthering our mission for Hub Everywhere, we introduced two new Matter-capable hubs for 2023: our TVs and the new SmartThings Station, a compact, wireless charger that also doubles as a hub to connect your smart home devices and create routines. Ready for bed? Just program the Station to automatically turn off your lights and TV for a custom night routine.

Sustainability

Saving energy matters now more than ever, which is why we’re placing sustainability at the core of our user experience. At CES, we announced our initiatives for sustainable living and commitment to making Net Zero Homes a reality with SmartThings Energy — a tool that’ll give you real-time data on your energy, water, and natural gas usage to help you reduce your carbon footprint (and your monthly energy bill). Because of our sustainability efforts, our connected home experience is the first mass-market Smart Home Energy Management System (SHEMS) to earn Energy Star certification.

SmartThings in the News

With an emphasis on our innovative technology and smart home solution, we received many awards and accolades during CES 2023. One of the most notable is the “Best of CES” award from Engadget for our ability to control connected devices throughout the home seamlessly. We also earned the “CES Innovations” award from the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) for making smart home technology more accessible and user-friendly.

The accolades didn’t stop there. Cementing our status as the most versatile and comprehensive smart home solution on the market, we were featured across top-tier, tech and consumer media outlets including Bloomberg, The Verge, CNET, TechCrunch, Men’s Journal, and USA Today’s Reviewed.

CES 2023 was a success, and we could not have done it without our partners, customers, and employees. Stay tuned for more updates on our latest products and innovations, as we further our commitment to creating one simple home system with a world of possibilities. 

How Creative Are You?

A pillow that can make you a cup of coffee in the morning. A backpack that can tell you when your kid is home. A kitchen pipe that can call the plumber. These are a few of the creative ways people are using SmartThings to unlock the potential of their everyday things.

We know you’ve made magical moments in your home with SmartThings, and we’d love to inspire others with your creation. All you have to do is send us a brief description of the innovative way you’re using SmartThings, and what excites you about it.

Send an email to stories@smartthings.com with your story and include your name, the products you used, your city, and ZIP Code. If your story is chosen, we’ll reach out to you about featuring it with SmartThings.


Legal-ese (our lawyers made us write this):

The story you submit (the “Content”) can be new content or content that has already been posted on your own personal site/blog, or elsewhere (e.g., Facebook), so long as the Content that you submit is original work created by you (i.e., the Content is owned by you or you have the right to submit the Content and grant the rights granted herein) that does not defame, or infringe the rights of, any third parties, including copyrights, rights of privacy and publicity, and any other intellectual property rights.

By sending us the Content, you willingly (1) grant to SmartThings, Inc. and its affiliates, parents and subsidiaries, a non-exclusive, royalty-free (and no fee or compensation of any kind), perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide license to use (or, in our sole discretion, to not use in any way), modify and create derivative works of the Content to post on our Blog and website for promotional purposes and for any other advertising, publicity, business trade or art purposes (translation: you own the Content; but you give us the above license to use it.); (2) agree that, if your Content or any parts thereof are chosen by us for consideration to be further featured by us in connection with the marketing and advertising of SmartThings, that we may contact you to discuss this through the email address you have provided (don’t forget to exclude us from Spam filters!); and (3) release us, our parents and affiliates from any claims or damages of any kind related to our use of the Content hereunder.

You further agree to our requirement that the Content not include, and that you are solely responsible for any losses if the Content includes, any material that: (i) compromises the security of the SmartThings products featured in the Content (e.g., showing user identities or log in information, etc.), (ii) depicts any SmartThings products in a dangerous or unsafe manner; (iii) is indecent, illegal, pornographic, sexually explicit, harassing or similar.

SmartThings Prevents a Burglary

We love hearing real stories from customers about how they’re using SmartThings to monitor, control, and secure their homes. Today, we’re sharing a story from Allison who writes in to tell the story of how SmartThings and her D-Link camera helped deter an intruder. Read More

Hello, Smart Home: Jeremy

While it may be directly across the street from Boston Common, Jeremy’s Beantown apartment is anything but ordinary. Come on in and see how he’s using SmartThings to control his lights, automate his lock, protect his home from water damage, and enhance his entertainment system. Read More