In an apparent attempt to improve its competitive smart home ecosystem position against Amazon Alexa, Google, and Apple HomeKit, Samsung’s SmartThings is promoting its partnership with leading smart light platform Philips Hue.
And to smooth this synergistic smart home road, Philips Hue is finally adopting Matter via a software update the Philips Hue Bridge. SmartThings started supporting Matter in October 2022.
At a media event at Samsung’s Experience location in New York City’s fashionable meatpacking district, executives and representatives from Samsung, SmartThings, and Signify – formerly Philips Lighting – demonstrated home vignette scenarios highlighting SmartThings and Philips Hue integration with varying Samsung devices including TVs, appliances, including Samsung’s latest Family Hub Plus refrigerator, home office, and gaming, including Samsung’s latest 57-inch widescreen curved OLED G9 gaming monitor.
“Our collaboration with Samsung SmartThings is a natural alliance, one that brings together two innovators striving to simplify your life by seamlessly integrating our technologies,” Tracy Coon, Head of Demand Generation, Philips Hue told TWICE. “The Philips Hue Bridge, which acts as the heart of the Hue ecosystem, enables compatibility with Samsung SmartThings. Through the SmartThings integration, not only can you control your Philips Hue lights, but you can also connect them to an ecosystem of smart devices that work in harmony to create a more intuitive, convenient, and energy-efficient home. It’s not just about smart lighting; it’s about a smarter way of living.”
In late August, Signify expanded beyond lighting with its new line of Philips Hue Secure smart products including 1080p Secure indoor and outdoor cameras, Secure door and window sensors, and a new Security Center within the Philips Hue app, and all Secure products can be integrated with Philips Hue lighting.
In early September, Signify also launched a new generation of its popular programmable indoor and outdoor Philips Hue Festavia string lights in three varieties: 100 LEDs along an 8-meter cord ($119.99), 250 LEDs along a 20-meter cord ($219.99), and 500 LEDs along a 40-meter cord ($359.99).
Primary Philips Hue lighting controls can be handled by the SmartThings app and the SmartThings Station hub, while specific Hue lighting features, such as its ambient lighting, are still controlled by the Philips Hues app. Philips Hue devices also need to be integrated into a home Wi-Fi network via the Hue Bridge.
Precise holiday promotional plans for the two smart home brands are still being formulated.
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