Samsung has announced that it is looking to expand its Smart Home platform to include devices that can connect with technology from a third party.
The move was announced ahead of this year's International Franchise Association conference, which will be held this week in Berlin, according to CNET. The South Korean tech giant said the move will allow consumers to use voice-recognition from their Galaxy smartphone's S Voice, as well as their Samsung smartwatch, to control robot vacuum cleaners, air conditioners and smart LED lightbulbs.
Samsung's announcement is its latest move in a quest to get more involved in smart-home technology, following several weeks after its purchase of open smart-hone platform SmartThings. The company had also introduced its HomeKit technology earlier this year, and also joined the Thread, a coalition of tech companies working to create standards for connected device technology, in July.
In addition to unveiling new devices at IFA, Samsung announced that its Samsung Smart Home SDK will be launched later this year, Geeky Gadgets reported. The SDK will be on display at the Samsung Developer Conference.
"We are excited to deliver a Smart Home experience which will make our customers' lives easier, with innovative products that help everyone's day to day routine, such as managing home security and energy consumption," said Wonpyo Hong, president of Samsung's Media Solutions Center. "We are excited to be leading the way in making the Smart Home possible for our customers worldwide."
Samsung didn't mention any of the third-party devices or services that would be integrated with its Smart Home tech, and has only referred to futuristic capabilities, such as using smartphones to lock doors and monitor security cameras, keeping track of the amount of electricity used by appliances and turning on lights and air conditioners with geolocation, CNET reported.
The company's Developer Conference will begin Nov. 11t in San Francisco.
