NEWS

Sep 03, 2015

SmartThings to launch in the UK with new Starter Kit, range of sensors and intuitive Mobile App with Video Support

Today, at the Samsung Electronics IFA 2015 Press Conference, Samsung SmartThings launched its new line of products, available across the U.S. and from September 10 in the U.K., including an upgraded Hub, sensors, and intuitive mobile app for a powerful and easy to use solution that helps solve specific problems. The company also introduced a new set of developer tools and partnership programmes to enable deeper integrations and collabouration across its open platform and the industry at large.

“People are beginning to understand the real value and utility smart home technology can provide in their everyday lives. With these products, we focused first and foremost on security and home monitoring to help answer the question, ‘is everything okay at home?’” said Alex Hawkinson, CEO and founder of SmartThings. “This marks our first product launch as part of the Samsung family, and together we’re continuing our commitment to deliver the easiest smart home solutions with a truly open ‘Internet of Things’ platform that maximises collabouration and innovation across the industry.”

The new Samsung SmartThings Hub is equipped with a powerful processor that enables video monitoring, a battery backup that lasts up to 10 hours in case of a power outage, and a local app engine for optimised performance and the ability to operate without an Internet connection. The collection of small Samsung SmartThings sensors have been designed with a sleek, contemporary look.

The Hub’s video monitoring capability, launching in beta and compatible with select Samsung and D-Link cameras, is unique in that it allows people to improve peace of mind while maintaining their privacy. A livestream can be accessed at any time, but video is only captured and stored when an unexpected event, such as motion by the front door, is detected. With this new feature, SmartThings is introducing a solution called Smart Home Monitor, which provides unified access and control against intrusion, smoke and fire, leaks and floods, and other common household issues by delivering real-time text alerts and video clip notifications from multiple cameras to the user or select contacts via the SmartThings app. Intelligent buffering enables video clip recording to start prior to the event so users can see what caused the incident.

The SmartThings app has also been designed for iOS and Android to include easy navigation and an intuitive experience. Users can directly organise and control devices by room, and customise actions to occur automatically based on pre-set routines. With the unique combination of Smart Home Monitor and new features that enable SmartThings to work even without power or Internet, the offering has evolved into a solution for real life problems, a testament to the promise of the smart home and the IoT.

SmartThings offers the most open and developer friendly platform available, and now supports nearly 200 compatible devices. The company is integrated with GitHub, and has expanded its “Works with SmartThings” programme beyond compatibility to include deeper integrations within the SmartThings app for a simple, unified experience. Partners at launch include Samsung, Honeywell, Schlage, Yale, First Alert, D-link, Osram, Cree, Bose and many more.

SmartThings will be available in the U.K. at select Currys PC World stores and online at ww.samsung.com and currys.co.uk from September 10.

The Hub retails at £99 and the Samsung SmartThings Starter Kit retails at £199 and includes:

• a SmartThings Hub to connect with smart sensors, lights, locks, cameras and more
• a SmartThings Multi Sensor to monitor whether doors, windows, drawers or your garage are open or closed
• a SmartThings Motion Sensor to monitor movement in your home
• a SmartThings Presence Sensor to know when people, pets and cars arrive or leave home
• a SmartThings Power Outlet to control lights, electronics and small appliances

Smart Home Monitor is available for free until December 31, 2015 with some features transitioning into a premium offering later this year.

In the U.S., SmartThings is available today for purchase on Shop.SmartThings.com, Samsung.com, Amazon.com, and coming next month to retail stores. The new Hub retails for $99 with sensors ranging between $30 and $55 each.

SmartThings will be exhibiting at IFA 2015 from September 4 - 9, 2015, in the Samsung booth based in the City Cube Berlin Hall B (Level 2) at Messe Berlin.

For more information, visit www.smartthings.com or www.smartthings.co.uk.

About SmartThings SmartThings is the easiest way to turn a home into a smart home, bringing users peace of mind, savings, and convenience. As an open platform with a thriving ecosystem, SmartThings also brings users freedom of choice in devices and limitless possibilities. Since SmartThings was acquired by Samsung in August 2014, the team has tripled in size, tripled developer activity from a community of over 10000, and has one of the largest ecosystem of compatible devices. SmartThings is headquartered in Palo Alto, CA and operates independently as a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.