App Allows Drivers to Control Vehicles through Smartphones
Samsung Electronics' IoT platform SmartThings will be applied to Mercedes-Benz cars. Samsung Electronics acquired SmartThings, a U.S. venture company specializing in IoT platforms, for about US$200 million in 2014 and is currently operating an app with the same name as that of the company. When home appliances are connected to the SmartThings app, they can be remotely controlled by smartphones.
"SmartThings technology has been applied to Mercedes-Benz vehicles," Samsung Electronics said on Nov. 1. "This is the first time that a voice-enabled IoT platform for smart homes goes into a car." The first Mercedes-Benz model featuring SmartThings is the 2021 edition of the S-Class.
Mercedes-Benz customers can control lighting, locks, thermostats, electric outlets, garage door openers, sensors and home security systems through the MBUX, an integrated voice recognition system based on SmartThings technology. For example, if a driver asks the MBUX, "Is there anyone at home?" or "Did you forget to turn off the lights?,” MBUX uses smart syncing technology to check the conditions of home appliances and informs the driver of the results. Passengers in the back seat will also be able to check the conditions of their home appliances in their cars and operate them through the MBUX.
Samsung Electronics is planning to expand the scope of SmartThings through collaboration with Mercedes-Benz. According to Samsung Electronics, more than 62 million subscribers actively use SmartThings. In 2019, Fiat Chrysler, which signed a business agreement with Samsung Electronics, announced that it will load an IoT platform on FCA vehicles sold worldwide by 2022.