By Holger Knöpke, Deutsche Telekom.
A recent study by Deloitte showed that "From the consumer’s viewpoint, open platforms offer fundamental advantages and are preferred over closed concepts." The reason, according to experts, is the broad choice of usable solutions and devices that are supported by such platforms.
Consumers who buy a proprietary smart home product are limited; they can only use the functions and solutions of a single supplier. Today’s smart home market is dominated by these single-vendor solutions, but we plan to change this with the QIVICON multi-vendor smart home platform.
QIVICON-compatible products and partner services have been on the German market since Autumn 2013, and we are currently working with over 30 partner companies from a variety of industries. These include consumer electronics corporation Samsung, home appliance manufacturer Miele, energy suppliers EnBW and Vattenfall, and network technology and security solutions provider D-Link.
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QIVICON has over 30 partner companies from a variety of industries, and has recently added Vattenfall and Kärcher as partners.[/caption]
Wireless Technology: keeping things simple
Since QIVICON uses wireless technology, there is no need for users to demolish walls or tear up cables to install it. Users simply connect their central control unit - the Home Base - to a power outlet and the Internet. An online installation wizard then guides them step by step through the process of installation and connection of their devices.
With QIVICON, appliances already in the household can be integrated into the smart home system. For example, a compatible wireless adapter – plugged in between a lamp and power outlet – enables the lamp to be controlled by an appropriate app. Other devices that can be integrated include radiator thermostats, temperature sensors, water level alarms and motion sensors. QIVICON-compatible products will also be available from Miele, electronics producer Philips, and energy supplier RheinEnergie from Autumn 2014 onwards.
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In a smart home, all the lights can be switched on and off with a click.[/caption]
Combining Different Protocols
The smart home market is overflowing with protocols such as Z-Wave, ZigBee and HomeMatic, to name but a few. So instead of adding yet another by developing our own protocol, we designed QIVICON’s central control unit to be connected to devices that support existing wireless protocols.
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The QIVICON Home Base interconnects devices that support different wireless protocols.[/caption]
The central control unit, or Home Base, is connected to the Internet via any broadband connection. For Germany, the Home Base features the HomeMatic protocol which is already widely used in the country, but other protocols, such as ZigBee etc, can be added simply by plugging the appropriate wireless stick into any of the Home Base’s four USB ports. The Home Base uses an AES128-encrypted connection to communicate with a wireless router, which users at home or on the move can then access via WLAN or mobile Internet to control and manage their connected devices.
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The German IT security test institute, AV-Test, awarded QIVICON the rating of 'Secure.'[/caption]
App Control
Our partner companies supply a range of apps that allow users to access their devices via smartphone, tablet or PC. These allow any number of scenarios to be set up.
For example, to make it easier to get up in the morning:
- at 06.30 on the dot, music begins to play.
- the lights gradually become brighter.
- the bathroom heating has been activated in advance.
- the coffee machine is switched on.
Or, to scare away intruders and keep the home more secure:
- any movement outside the house at night triggers the lights in the hall and activates the music system.
- if a door or window is opened when nobody is home, door and window contact sensors send a warning to the user’s smartphone.
Opportunities for Retailers
According to the market research institute Research and Market, the smart home market will continue to grow, and the global market volume is forecast to double to GBP21 billion from 2011 to 2016.
The growing smart home market also opens up opportunities for retailers. By offering appropriate products at an early stage, they can provide their customers with enhanced value. Installation services and cross-selling are further areas of additional business.
In Germany, QIVICON-compatible products are available from specialist retailers, wholesalers and numerous online stores. Smart home beginners can choose from starter packages supplied by various partner companies, which contain the Home Base together with further devices – for example, for home security. These packages are available at prices from EUR269, which is just over GBP212.
Although QIVICON is only available in Germany currently, we are engaged in discussions with companies interested in offering the QIVICON platform and partner products in other European countries. We are currently unable to say when and to what extent QIVICON will be available internationally, but any company can become a QIVICON partner and 'hook up'.
Conclusion
Developments at Apple and Google provide further confirmation that the market for smart home solutions is a promising one. At the start of 2014, Google acquired Nest Labs, a US manufacturer of smart thermostats and smoke alarms. More recently, Google bought the start-up company Dropcam, which develops Internet-enabled home surveillance cameras. And Apple is hot on Google’s heels, with the technology giant having already filed a patent in home automation and announced HomeKit.
In an environment as dynamic as this, smart home providers can only prevail if they develop products that stand out from the crowd. Because we are confident that open platforms are the way forward in the smart home industry, we have ensured that the QIVICON platform is open to devices from various manufacturers and industries, and enables consumers to select from a wide variety of combinations for their smart home, at a price level that is open to all.
Holger Knöpke is Head of Connected Homes for Deutsche Telekom, one of the world’s leading integrated telecommunications companies.
www.qivicon.com