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Are Apple, Microsoft and Google Setting up a Home Automation Battle?

By | December 21, 2012 | 1 comment
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0The living room is quickly becoming the “new black.” That is to say, electronics companies seem particularly interested in what goes on in the living room and how they can profit from it. Microsoft has been pushing Xbox Live in advertising lately and last month, the Verge reported that the company was building a set-top box so users could get the same experience with Xbox Live, but without the price.

Apple has been updating and adding features to its set-top box, Apple TV, in order to generate more in-home interest. Google has gone so far as to create Google TV, a software platform based on the Android operating system, specifically designed for smart TVs and set top boxes. But how far are these companies willing to go in the battle for living room supremacy? How about home automation?

According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple, Microsoft, and Google are in a bidding war to buy id8 Group R2 Studios Inc., a home media and automation technology startup whose only claim to fame is an Android app that can control in-home lighting and heating operations.

Why would all three companies be interested in home automation? Possibly because it is the new hotness in the tech world. Belkin launched the WeMo earlier this year. AT&T offers a home automation service with a compatible iPad app called AT&T Digital Life. You can even set up your own temperature control and automatic lighting system in your house with products like the Nest and Philips Hue. It is no wonder that the big electronics companies want to get in on the ground floor of this action.

But, who is best suited to dominate the home automation industry if Microsoft, Google and Apple are the ones blazing the trail?

Apple already has a well-established infrastructure of apps for home automation through companies like AT&T, Belkin, Savant, Phillips, and more. They have consumer trust and familiarity. However, they don’t have the hardware in place to take the next step into the market. Plus, how would it look if Apple started copying technology from companies that support the App Store with their apps? No, Apple should stick to being the liaison for other companies looking to invade the home automation market.

Microsoft owns the most popular operating system in the world, and offers the most prolific productivity suit as well. The general public would be more likely to be interested in home automation from a company that has already branded itself as a household name. However, Microsoft doesn’t do hardware. The Xbox is their most popular piece of equipment. The Surface with Windows RT did not produce the numbers the company was hoping for and the Surface Pro, while being considered a vast improvement on the current Surface tablet, has yet to make an appearance and its capabilities are unknown.  No, Microsoft should stick to what it does best, software.

Google has close ties with hardware manufacturers like Sony, Samsung, and many other original equipment manufacturers. They have already made their way into the living room with Google TV. They have also proven their worth in the software industry with the Android operating system. I believe that Google would be best suited in this market to take the lead in home automation. They have the right connections and are established in the software market. They would receive less resistance from naysayers who think Apple is too overbearing. Google Smart Home Automation… it has a nice ring to it.

[Via: Electronista]

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About Lory: Writer of all things app related, traveler of the space-time continuum, baker of really great cookies. Follow me @appaholik

  • Joe Estrada

    Lory,

    I agree with some portions of your article, except for your final conclusion. If you’ve used Google products in the past, you know they have a tremendous lack of follow up, and a large amount of disappointed users in their attempt to control the living room. I purchased two Google Tvs, and have been very displeased with the quality of their build, the amount of apps, and the terrible communication coming from their marketing group. In fact, Logitech said that partnering with Google on this effort was the biggest mistake the company had made (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57322966-93/logitech-confesses-to-gigantic-mistake-with-google-tv/).

    Microsoft has a giant stake on this market, but they have been unable to reach the regular user, and home automation is not something that is embraced by everyone nor necessary as of yet. This means that there is only a small segment of the population that cares about this new “space”….so let’s think, which company has the biggest hold on the niche market, has their customers already willing to pay a heavy premium for their products, and have created a cult-like following from both vendors and customers alike?

    Apple actually lost their bidding war to Microsoft earlier this month, which means that MS is completely aware of how valuable this market space is. Imagine an Apple TV device that is the brain of the entire house, vice just a TV device. There are home automation companies like Savant that use everything Apple to run their automation services, so even though there is ample room for either of these three giants to get in, I think Apple actually has the lead.