Samsung announced that its full lineup of Smart TVs for 2016 will be IoT-ready.
The company intends to make its 2016 SUHD TVs equipped with its own IoT hub technology using the SmartThings open platform. This way, consumers can to connect, manage and manipulate their smart devices and IoT-based services.
"We're excited to announce that all 2016 Samsung Smart TVs will be compatible with SmartThings, and all SUHD TVs will have IoT Hub technology so your TV can become the heart of your smart home," the company said on the SmartThings blog. "With the 2016 SUHD TVs, you will now be able to connect, control and monitor more than 200 other compatible devices including lights, locks, thermostats, cameras, speakers, appliances, SmartThings sensors and more."
This means there is no need to purchase a separate SmartThings hub worth $99 to control lights, locks and cameras since each of Samsung's SUHD TVs will be able to control such devices through the SmartThings platform.
For those who need to add other home automation protocols such as Z-Wave and ZigBee to their smart TVs, they can simply add the free SmartThings Extend USB adaptor which should work with the TVs' Wi-Fi connectivity feature.
"The SmartThings extend plugs into your 2016 SUHD TV and allows you to control and manage 200+ compatible devices," said SmartThings.
Samsung will conduct demos of the various capabilities of its SmartTVs at the upcoming CES 2016 in January. At the event, the company has vowed to showcase how it has made its SmartTVs the focal point of its growing IoT technology.
"The 2016 lineup of Smart TVs will offer consumers new possibilities and cement Samsung's market leading position as the first company to launch IoT-ready TVs," said Hyun Suk Kim, president of Samsung Electronics' Visual Display Business.
Using the SmartThings platform will also allow quicker and easier access to smart devices. Instead of using a bunch of separate apps, consumers can simply depend on their smartphones and SUHD TVs to connect the different devices.
They can also receive notifications on various activities and alerts on unusual movements that are detected through an outdoor camera that is connected to their Smart TVs. This provides extra security and peace of mind no matter where they are.
Another feature to look forward to with the SmartThings platform is the Cinema Mood which can allow consumers to create the ultimate home TV viewing experience.
These are just some of the few things that consumers can expect to see from Samsung as the company prepares to unveil a number of its products at CES 2016.
