Samsung wants its TV to be the new smart home hub

Samsung has seen the future of the smart home, and it’s in your TV. Samsung announced that all of its SmartTV products will have the SmartThings platform on it, ready to connect to other devices around the home.

Samsung wants the most ubiquitous device in living rooms around the world to be a smart home hub. This is a natural fit. As people look at buying more “connected” devices and appliances for the home, they will now have the option of just upgrading their television instead of adding another control panel or hub to the home. These TVs will be able to control other Samsung devices and connect with SmartThings sensors, according to the company, along with “more than 200 other SmartThings-compatible devices.” So users will be able to check from their TV who is at the front door or change lighting or surround sound settings when they plop down to watch a movie. These things can be controlled from a smartphone, as well, but there’s simplicity in using a single remote and controlling everything from a television.

The SmartThings platforms can connect to other devices via various protocols, including the popular ZigBee and Z-Wave standards that have been adopted by so many third-party device manufacturers, like those in China. Not all devices using these standards will necessarily work, though. Samsung provides a list of compatible products on its website. It’s possible that some unlisted third-party products could be used, but Samsung isn’t promising anything.

Still, having a platform that can connect to ZigBee and Z-Wave devices shipped on TVs can’t be bad for China manufacturers. These manufacturers may have to verify themselves that their products can work with popular hubs and other products, but as smart homes proliferate, sales of products from China are also likely to rise. Not everyone will want to keep shelling out top dollar for a replacement smart light bulb coming from a big brand name.