Tag: SmartThings

“Hey Mercedes!” Welcome to one of the World’s Largest IoT Ecosystems

Our ecosystem continues to grow and we’re pleased to share that SmartThings will power Mercedes-Benz’s latest smart home function, giving drivers and passengers unprecedented ability to use their vehicle as a control center for the home. The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class is the first native in-car voice assistant system to be integrated into a smart home platform. We’re thrilled to offer drivers, as well as passengers, remote connectivity to thousands of intelligent devices made by hundreds of brands supported by SmartThings’ open IoT ecosystem.

Recognizing the evolution of IoT, this announcement is the first of several showcasing our strategy to take a technology-first approach, to bring smart functionality and capabilities everywhere consumers want to be. Car-to-home experiences represent yet another step in creating a universal smart home standard while simplifying development for manufacturers and increasing compatibility for consumers.

By unlocking the vast power of the SmartThings platform, Mercedes-Benz customers will enjoy first-of-their-kind capabilities when they leave their house or are heading home after a long day at work. Drivers and passengers can seamlessly connect and control many aspects of their home environment including lights, locks, thermostats, electric outlets, garage door openers, sensors, and home security systems, all through Mercedes-Benz’s integrated voice assistant.  Using natural language, such as “Hey Mercedes, did I forget to turn off my lights at home?” to “Hey Mercedes, is anyone at home?”, the MBUX Voice Assistant minimizes distraction, allowing drivers to focus on the road in front of them and know that everything is alright at home. Additionally, passengers in the rear seats can also enjoy the full scope of the smart home integration and interact with their smart homes.

SmartThings unlocks endless possibilities of connectivity from within the car and while inside the home.  From monitoring an elderly loved one to being alerted about a grocery item when you’re driving by a store, SmartThings’ integration with Mercedes-Benz adds to the robust features of the luxury car. Bridging the gap between car and home, SmartThings offers the reliability that drivers trust. SmartThings technology will be available in Mercedes-Benz vehicles, starting with the S-Class, beginning in 2021.

SmartThings and Aeotec – A Connected Family

SmartThings is forging ahead with plans to accelerate the creation of an open IoT ecosystem powered by its technology. Earlier this year, we shared our plans to partner with companies that are leaders in the smart-home-automation space to manufacture and distribute SmartThings compatible hardware. We are pleased to announce that SmartThings and Aeotec are expanding our partnership in both the United States and European markets, furthering the innovative SmartThings portfolio in over 200 countries.

Aeotec Group has been a valued Works With SmartThings (WWST) partner for many years, as well as a recognized leader in design and development of SmartHome devices. Now, Aeotec and their European partner company, Z-Wave Europe GmbH, will add a “Works As a SmartThings Hub” (WASH) device, new sensors, cameras, and other Zigbee devices to its offerings. Beginning in Q1 2021, SmartThings and Aeotec will conduct joint activities to incentivize upgrades, including special offers for long-time SmartThings customers. Together with Aeotec, we are committed to maintaining, extending, and enhancing our portfolio for customers around the world.

What does this mean for customers? SmartThings will continue to provide lasting support to current device and platform users. While moving forward, Aeotec Group will support their hardware with the same standard our customers have come to expect. New customers with the Aeotec Smart Home Hub will be able to leverage the powerful SmartThings automations to create rich smart home experiences with our WWST products. This includes everything from the Aeotec Sensors to Buttons and Cams.

With more than 63 million active users – and growing each day – SmartThings’ evolution beyond these hubs and sensors allows us to focus on innovating and creating differentiated experiences. We are committed to working with partners to bring smart home functionality and capabilities everywhere consumers want to be, spanning over 5,000 devices including mobile phones, appliances, TVs, and more.

Our strategy as an open platform is to leverage leading hardware manufacturers to integrate our technology into new product lines – adding to the thousands of Samsung and WWST certified devices found in millions of homes. Aeotec has been a partner of SmartThings since 2013, and together have grown alongside one another to help build up SmartThings as the dominant smart home player.

Our partnership builds upon Aeotec’s world-class experience and commitment to quality in manufacturing smart home devices. We are pleased to collaborate with a company that customers trust and excited to continue bringing SmartThings into every home around the world.