One company, called Revolv, is intent on doing this exact thing. This means creating one app from the disparate apps and consolidating all of the wireless adapters. The other approach is where a company enables consumers to buy the best in breed end point products, but integrates the hardware and software. Like AT&T in cable services, the consumer is unlikely to get best in breed in hardware, software, or services. Bundles start at $55 per month with two year commit and a $450 equipment charge to $65 per month with an $800 outlay. The consumer makes a multi-year service agreement similar to a phone which decreases the initial cash outlay. The first is to go to a service and device aggregator like AT&T with their Digital Life service where they provide one app and a consolidated wireless adapter box. Now imagine having five or six wireless adapters plus your WiFi router in the house. Because devices are speaking a different wireless “language”, they need a different wireless adapter. It’s not just WiFi, among home automation solutions, there is Zigbee, Zwave, Insteon, Itron, RadioRA2 and more. You see, many of these devices works on a different kind of wireless network. For many of these products, you will need to have separate wireless adapters plugged into the wall. What if I wanted my outdoor lights to turn on after the garage door unlocks? That’s not going to happen because it requires two separate apps. Additionally, there aren’t easy ways to make the devices work as one system if you wanted to trigger an event after an event. What if the consumer bought a Nest thermostat, Kwikset door lock, Phillips Hue lighting, Lutron light switch, a Sonos audio system, and a bunch of Belkin wireless plugs? First, the consumer would have six different apps to setup, learn and use that all look and feel different. The challenge with all these products comes in aggregate when consumers start buying a lot of them. The enthusiasts have been experimenting for years and the new products are just their next generation. The mavens buy home automation because they want to be first with cool, new technology. There are two distinct sets of people who are buying these devices technology mavens and home automation enthusiasts. Even Amazon has jumped onto the bandwagon, opening up a home automation store within a store. CES and CEDIA are the trade show kings of this market and have rows or buildings dedicated to the category. It seems like I can’t go a week without seeing a new announcement on a DIY home automation product. ![]() These new devices are great, but in aggregate when used at the same time actually create a new set of consumer problems which I want to explore in this column. These are brands like Nest, Hue, Kwikset, Sonos, Korus, Dropcam, Honeywell, Yale, Iris, Insteon and Belkin that individually control you’re A/C, lights, locks, cameras, home audio, garage door, window shades, and anything with a plug. And starts, more mainstream home automation appears to be growing out of that rich niche as evidenced by all the DIY (do it yourself) products on the market.
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