AT&T connects car with the home

AT&T, like other home security integrators in the US, offers services and hardware for home automation. However, the company has now gone in a new direction, partnering with vehicle makers to make home automation extensible to the car as well. Its new initiative, called AT&T Drive, is a platform that allows developers to create user-controlled and automatic applications that could control home security, garage doors, thermostats, and other connected devices within the home from the car.

For example, a developer could allow the car to communicate with a garage door opener when the car gets within a set distance, automatically opening the door or closing it when the car gets a certain distance away. Connected lights could be turned on or off in a similar fashion. Home security features such as automated door locks or alarms could similarly be set or turned off.

One issue stemming from this is hardware adoption by carmakers or aftermarket installers. Smartphones and even smart watches may be able to replicate many of the features without requiring proprietary hardware to be installed. While the AT&T Drive hardware is modular - some or all features can be installed - currently AT&T's home automation solution can also be controlled via a smartphone or tablet app. Nevertheless, this is clearly a direction that could lead to exciting new features for aftermarket infotainment systems; should the technology spread further, it may be a design requirement rather than an add-on for such systems.

See a comparison table of car multimedia interface suppliers on GlobalSources.com