Samsung to make SmartThings Cloud available this spring
Las Vegas, Nev. — As Samsung moves beyond phones and to IoT devices in general, the company announced at Consumer Electronics Association (CES) 2018 it will make its SmartThings Cloud service available this spring; although, an exact date was not given.
The company originally announced the SmartThings Cloud last October. The purpose of the SmartThings Cloud is to enable users to control IoT devices through a single app. It will work with various Samsung products, existing IoT apps in addition to connected cars running on Harman’s Ignite cloud.
The Korean electronics giant has been striving to make its products IoT ready by 2020. The company noted that 90% of its products, from smartphones to tablets, are connected to the web.
“At Samsung, we believe IoT should be as easy as flipping a switch,” said Hyunsuk (HS) Kim, president and head of Samsung’s Global Consumer Electronics Business.“With the new products and services announced today, we’re making IoT easier and more seamless. We’re committed to accelerating IoT adoption for everyone and making all Samsung connected devices intelligent by 2020. These advancements will help consumers realize the benefits of a seamless and simple connected life.”
The company said it wants to make all its products Bixby capable by 2020 as well. Bixby is a voice-powered digital assistant developed by Samsung. It was originally released for Galaxy S8 last year followed by its English version a couple months later. Samsung said it wants to integrate Bixby into its smart TVs and Family Hub refrigerators this year. “We are taking Bixby to the next level of intelligence to figure out what you need before you even have to ask,” said Kim.
Samsung’s Knox security system is also being extended from phones to smart TVs, digital signs and appliances. “At Samsung, we believe IoT should be as easy as flipping a switch,” said Kim. “With the new products and services announced today, we’re making IoT easier and more seamless.”
Samsung is also working with partners like the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) to make sure its products are compatible with other devices. Kim said the company’s devices will be compatible with OCF standards by 2020.
