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EMERGING TECH
Samsung launches new Google Wifi competitor that includes a smart device hub
Buried among the news of Samsung Electronic Co. Ltd.’s Galaxy S8 launch Tuesday was news from the Korean tech giant of a new connected mesh router system to take on the likes of Google Wifi.
Called Samsung Connect Home, the new service delivers wireless mesh networking, which is the ability to have multiple devices throughout the home to create a “mesh” of coverage. The base set starts with three identical hardware units, one unit that connects to a broadband modem and others working as network extenders.
That’s essentially what Google Wifi does, but the Samsung also offers support for smart home devices. That makes the Connect Home both a mesh network and an Internet of Things hub that allows users to control smart IoT and connected home products compatible with Samsung’s platform. Samsung is pitching the Connect Home as enabling simple integration and control of smart devices through a single app, with Samsung’s SmartThings devices automatically connecting to the app with just one click.
Notably, the new offering removes the need for a Samsung’s SmartThings hub as a standalone device, because it can directly communicate with connected gadgets over Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi, Zigbee or Z-wave. Samsung doesn’t list every device its standards are compatible with, but along with Samsung and Samsung SmartThing devices, Connect Home also works with third party IoT devices such as Philips Hue lights and Netgear Arlo security cameras.
“Samsung Connect is a simple way to control and monitor all your devices from one unified app, bringing everything into one place,” the company said in a statement.
It’s also another interesting move by Samsung in its efforts to be everywhere for everything when it comes to IoT. The company had previously launched a television set that also worked as a hub for smart home devices. The TV remains in production, but users now have an alternative to buying a 60-inch AMOLED flat screen.
What wasn’t forthcoming from Samsung is how much nor when the device will go on sale. The company did note that the app for Connect Home would ship preloaded on the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus models and would be available for other Android devices later in the year.
Photo: 99781513@N04/Flickr
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