Samsung’s SmartThings Launches IoT Smart Home Subscription Service

Last July, Samsung bought Washington, D.C.-based home automation startup SmartThings for some $200 million, ostensibly to carve itself another Internet of Things (IoT) path along with its existing smart appliances and televisions.

But now the Korean device maker has gone farther than IoT smart home product development, opening up a new, fee-based premium subscription service featuring advanced home monitoring capabilities accessible from a Galaxy Gear S smartwatch. Subscribers to the SmartThings service automatically receive alerts by text or mobile phone call when an emergency is detected in the home such as a flood or fire.

SmartThings debuted the service along with a new Hub and sensors and more integration with third party devices, including Netgear cameras, Philips Hue, Honeywell thermostats, Chamberlain garage door openers, August locks, and all Samsung smart appliances, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week.

While the IoT smart home automation market is still in its infancy, SmartThings is positioning itself as an open development venue where developers and channel partners can capitalize on unique revenue opportunities.

“Since SmartThings was acquired by Samsung this past August our platform has seen tremendous growth and innovation,” said Alex Hawkinson, SmartThings founder and chief executive. “The number of apps and devices created by our community has doubled to more than 10,000 developers and over one million apps installed,” he said. “This growth is a testament to the power of openness and we’re excited to bring our users the next generation of our platform for enhanced peace of mind, savings, and convenience.”

The new SmartThings Hub features an upgraded processor, built-in backup battery and additional connectivity options such as Bluetooth Smart. SmartThings said it will soon release an new app that allows customers to monitor their homes from a Samsung Galaxy Gear S smartwatch. The premium service also includes built-in DVR services for cameras.

At CES, Hawkinson and BK Yoon, Samsung president and chief executive, together delivered an opening keynote address focused on the IoT, with Yoon reiterating Samsung’s plans to back SmartThings’ blueprint to build an open smart home platform, according to a SmartThings blog post.

“Today, on behalf of Samsung, I’m making a promise: Our IoT components and devices will be open,” he said. “We will ensure that others can easily connect to our devices. That’s why last August, when SmartThings became a member of the Samsung family, we promised to keep its platform open.”

SmartThings said its new hub, sensors, and premium subscription service will be available for purchase in North America this coming April.