The home as a network needs structure, interoperability and automation to make the connected house a connected home. To that end, uControl, a provider of home security, monitoring and automation solutions launched OpenSMA, an industry program for standards and collaboration for home-based services.
OpenSMA will be focused on open, technology-agnostic standards and collaboration of the companies powering the Connected Home. The first named partners of OpenSMA are CentraLite, Comporium, Ember, Massillion, NewWave Communications, SMC Networks and The Weather Channel.
The OpenSMA program is broadly divided into five vertical segments with some members falling into multiple categories: service providers, platform hardware, lifestyle devices, applications and infrastructure.
Any broadband or Internet Service Providers delivering SMA solutions to their customer base can participate. The players in this segment are the main distribution channel by which SMA solutions get deployed into the home. Comporium, Massillion and NewWave Communication are among the first cable companies to join OpenSMA.
Platform Hardware such as uControl’s SMA platform runs in many locations within the home. SMC Networks, also a member, Ruby SMA TouchScreen houses uControl’s software stack in addition to performing all the functions of a stand alone ZigBee-based alarm system. Platform Hardware members range from home gateway, router and modem vendors to set-top box and multimedia tablet manufacturers.
Lifestyle Devices include wireless security sensors, thermostats, lighting controls, video cameras and door locks. Members of this group leverage open standards such as ZigBee and Wi-Fi to integrate their products into the OpenSMA ecosystem. Today, uControl announces CentraLite as a new Lifestyle Device member of OpenSMA.
Application developers working on digital photo viewing, news streams, sports updates, weather alerts, energy management, smart grid integration and home health monitoring are part of this group.
Infrastructure players are the glue to make everything else work. These companies provide the base of the uControl platform that keeps all members’ products and services seamlessly working together. Ember brings its ZigBee chipset and protocol software to the program.
“We are so proud to publicly launch the OpenSMA program today. Since its inception, the uControl open approach to the Connected Home has been very simple – and deliberate: Deliver the most open, technology-agnostic platform possible, accessible to any device manufacturer, content provider or partner to accelerate the adoption of SMA everywhere," said Jim Johnson, CEO of Austin, Texas-based uControl.
