Samsung is the biggest consumer electronics company in the world, with a market cap of over $268 billion. Apart from smartphones and home appliances, the company is upping its game in the Internet of Things industry. Last year, Samsung announced a $1.2 billion investment plan just for the US IoT industry for the next four years.
Samsung Smart Connect
Samsung recently announced Samsung Connect, a smart home device designed to let users automate and delete their daily tasks. The device is powered by Samsung’s own IoT software. Samsung connect automatically identifies devices on your home’s network on LAN.
SmartThings
Samsung is making smartphone the centerpiece of its IoT services. Samsung Galaxy S8 is loaded with Samsung’s SmartThings platform. Using SmarThings app, you can easily control your TV, air conditioner, vacuum cleaner, kitchen appliances and other devices from your smartphone. Samsung acquired internet of things company SmartThings in 2014. Since then it is widely integrating SmartThings’s apps and services into its main products. Galaxy S8 also contains Bixby, an AI assistant which activates devices based on users’ verbal commands.
Wearables
Wearable technology is another area where Samsung is putting up an intense competition for its rivals like Apple and Google. The company has a slew of smart watches in the market, also known as Gear. Samsung has launched several smartwatches, including Galaxy Gear, Gear 2, Gear 2 Neo, Gear Live, Gear S and an activity tracker called Gear Fit.
Tizen IoT OS
Last month, Samsung shocked everyone by launching one of the most powerful IoT-based OS, Tizen. Tizen is a multi-purpose OS with a special focus on IoT, home appliances and gaming. Tizen also supports open source web kit, Crosswalk.
Connected Home Appliances
Perhaps the biggest advantage for Samsung over its competitors is its penetration in the home appliance market. Samsung is leveraging this edge. The company plans to produce smart and “connected” home appliances. Its washing machine app, Android Samsung Smart Washer, is already rolling out in the US. Samsung’s smart washing machine has a feature which lets you connect your washing machine with your smartphone. Samsung is also working on connected TVs, radios, kitchen appliances and entertainment system. Eventually, Samsung wants a complete ecosphere to capture bigger markets. In 2015, Samsung announced to invest $100 million at CES to develop an open framework to connect devices like cars, fitness trackers, and home appliances for easy and seamless communication.
