Microsoft Corporation's Latest Internet of Things Partnership Could Take It Into Smart Homes

Microsoft has responded with an interesting mix of strategies. Primarily, Microsoft uses Insteon's Hub to synchronize home automation devices to Windows. Insteon also grants Windows users unofficial "back-door" access to Nest. With Miele, it gains a presence in appliances to compete against Samsung. Like Samsung, Microsoft offers its apps and Azure services across multiple platforms, which maximizes its growth potential beyond Windows devices.

Microsoft hasn't received as much attention as Apple, Google, or Samsung in the smart home market. However, all of the building blocks are there: Windows 10 will unite various computing platforms, Azure will tether together multiple devices, while new investments and partnerships will connect home automation devices to Windows. Its partnership with Miele, which will further expand its presence in smart homes, is just another piece of that puzzle.

Read more: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/04/16/microsoft-corporations-latest-internet-of-things-p.aspx

Popular posts from this blog

Commercial Automation Leader SOMFY Joins ZigBee

The ZigBee Alliance, a non-profit maintaining and delivering open, global standards for the low-power wireless Internet of Things (IoT), announced that SOMFY has joined the ZigBee Alliance. A world leader in the home and commercial automation market, SOMFY develops, manufactures and distributes products in 58 countries across five continents. From motorized window treatments for residential and commercial buildings to automated outdoor extensions, gates and garage doors, SOMFY provides a complete range of the latest motorized solutions, automatic systems and alarms designed to make daily life easier, safer and more pleasant. Read more: http://virtual-strategy.com/2016/08/09/european-home-and-commercial-automation-leader-somfy-joins-zigbee-alliance-board-of-directors/
Read more

Home automation gets cheaper, smarter, easier

The promise of widely available home automation has been around since "The Jetsons" aired 50 years ago. But until recently, smart- home systems have been pricey and complex, typically requiring professional installation. And few consumers have been aware of the availability of such services or haven't been convinced that they needed them. But in recent years, major consumer service providers — including ADT, Comcast and Vivint — have entered the market, helping promote the concept of home automation and make it more accessible to average consumers. Companies such as Comcast and Vivint now offer basic home-automation systems for less than $500 installed. And Lowe's Iris, which is available for about $300 for a full system, is designed for self-installation. "We definitely see that (home automation) is moving increasingly into the mainstream," said Jonathan Collins, an analyst with ABI Research. Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/ci_22649153/is-smart
Read more

The smart home and a data underclass

Domestic appliance manufacturers and technology companies have big plans for our homes. From remote controlled heating devices such as Nest and Hive to intelligent fridges, smart TVs and connected washing machines, our appliances will become smart, automating many of our everyday tasks. But true to the notion of the internet of everything in which both things and processes are connected, smart devices won’t just eliminate everyday tasks such as supermarket orders, they will also establish new business relationships. Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2015/aug/03/smart-home-data-underclass-internet-of-things
Read more