AT&T is partnering with Samsung and Qualcomm and opening its Digital Life home automation and security services to third-parties. AT&T has deals in place with LG, Qualcomm, Samsung, and Lutron Electronics to “rapidly expand the types of services and products it is able to offer customers, as well as entering new markets while delivering an integrated experience.” They are opening up the Digital Life platform using open standards and trying to spur innovation and come up with cool new ideas. “Innovation in home automation is skyrocketing, but to really drive mass adoption, we need to leverage the strong platform that we have built working with key industry leaders and developers to bring the best ideas together to benefit the customer,” said AT&T’s senior VP of Digital Life, Kevin Petersen. “That’s what we’re going to continue to do in 2015.”
Samsung made a new app that will let the Gear S smartwatch integrate with the Digital Life app, bringing notifications from the Digital Life to the Gear S. Samsung’s WiFi camera will be added to Digital Life as well, bringing those IP camera automation options into the mix as well. Qualcomm is adding their Life 2ne platform and hub to the mix which will let users track and send and receive biometric data, like their weight and blood pressure. LG is using their webOS smart TVs and integrating them with Digital Life to receive notifications from Digital Life. AT&T customers will be able to get alerts when someone comes to their front door, and similar notifications, right on their television. Lutron and AT&T are joining forces to automate Lutron smart window shades so customers can open and close their shades on a set schedule. It’s all about home automation, really.
AT&T will be adding additional third-party options and customers can bring their existing third-party solutions to the Digital Life platform if they want to. This is a really cool move on the part of AT&T, opening up Digital Life services and functionality in order to make the experience better for consumers.