Comcast Completes Third Party Home Automation Integration
Comcast has completed the integration of the first group of third party home automation services. Xfinity Home customers are now able to control the August Smart Lock, Chamberlain MyQ garage controller, and the Lutron Caseta wireless light controller and dimmer directly through the Xfinity Home app on both iOS and Android devices. In addition, Xfinity Home now works with the Nest Learning Thermostat.
The Xfinity Home team has been working on a Software Development Kit (SDK) over the last few months to make it easier for 3rd-party vendors to integrate their smart devices. The goal is to have one app with a single log-in that controls the whole Xfinity Home experience, Xfinity Home svp and gm Dan Herscovici told us. “Over the next few months, these devices will be able to interact with each other,” he said. The SDK includes a testing and certification program to ensure all hardware that integrates with Xfinity Home meets quality, compatibility and security requirements, he said.
Smart devices that have gone through the process will be certified under the “Works with Xfinity Home” program and will eventually include branding that makes it easy for customers to identify compatible smart home devices when shopping online and in retail stores. Eventually, customers will be able to control all of their smart home devices through their TV via the X1 platform and voice remote. In addition, the SDK and connectivity options will use open standards like Wi-Fi and APIs to make it that much easier to integrate.
The most common reason to buy home service is security, Herscovici said. As customers feel more comfortable with the service, they are likely to add other features. The second most common user case is around video and cameras in the home, followed by lighting and thermo control, the exec said. Check out all the details in Herscovici’s blog.
