Analysts at Gartner Inc. have predicted that “smart home” products will add $1.9 trillion to the global economy in the next six years. While that number may seem high in a market of fragmented product lines that don’t always “play nice,” it looked a lot more realistic with the announcement by Google’s Nest, and six other companies (Yale Security, Silicon Labs, Samsung Electronics, Freescale® Semiconductor, Big Ass Fans and ARM) that the companies have formed the Thread Group (www.threadgroup.org) to develop Thread, a new IP-based wireless networking protocol.
Crestron, Rockleigh, N.J., announced that the new Network Stream Player (CEN-NSP-1), which it says “gives each member of the family complete audio freedom,” is now shipping.
Savant Systems LLC, Hyannis, Mass., a provider of smart home products and technology, announced the addition of WatchNET to its Partners in Excellence (PIE) cooperative program.
Cox Communications, Atlanta, is continuing its expansion of home security and automation services by offering Cox Home Security to the Omaha and Wichita markets.
Vivint, a home automation services provider in North America and SDM’s 2011 Dealer of the Year, unveiled Vivint Sky, the next generation of what Vivint calls its “intelligent home experience.”
iControl Networks and NETGEAR®, Redwood City, Calif., and San Jose, Calif., announced the launch of the NETGEAR Security Touch Screen (STS7000), a new Android™ touchscreen for iControl Connect™ solutions.