Dive Brief:
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Samsung Electronics on Monday unveiled three new smart home products, including the SmartThings Cam, the SmartThings Wifi Smart Plug and the SmartThings Smart Bulb, per a company press release. The products are currently available on Samsung's website, Best Buy and select retailers, per the company's statement.
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The SmartThings Cam, $89.99, has "advanced object detection" and connects with the SmartThings app so that users can keep an eye on their home and receive notifications if the camera picks up on certain activity. The sensors can distinguish the motion of individuals from cars passing by, according to the company's press release. Users can also set activity zones to closely monitor specific areas, such as a nursery.
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The SmartThings Wifi Smart Plug, $17.99 and SmartThings Smart Bulb, $9.99, allow users to control their lighting and small appliances or electronic devices through voice assistance.
Dive Insight:
This is just another layer of Samsung Electronics' entry into the Internet of Things (IoT) market. Last year, the company rolled out its QLED TV, a smart TV which features Bixby the virtual assistant. The introduction of its smart TV was part of the company's broader effort to weave together its various apps within the SmartThings app.
"We want to help families keep their connected lives simple and seamless using SmartThings to bring together hundreds of popular smart home products in one platform," S.K. Kim, senior director of IoT product marketing at Samsung Electronics America, said in a statement. "Our new SmartThings Cam, Wifi Smart Plug and Smart Bulb create new pathways into our smart home platform, where users will discover how everyday tasks can easily be automated."
These products follow a larger trend of more retailers entering the IoT market. Research has indicated that retailers have been adopting IoT technology and are looking to invest more into it. It's also an attempt by Samsung to compete with other retailers in the smart home space, most notably Google and Amazon. The two tech giants have been battling over the voice commerce space for some time, and expanding their device families and capabilities to better serve customers. Both companies have also partnered with notable brands and retailers for voice shopping, though Walmart recently pulled its products from Google Express, saying it was "developing a Walmart-specific Action for the Google Assistant."
If Samsung Electronics can figure out how to seamlessly integrate its new products, investing further in the smart home could be a lucrative move. Industry insiders estimate that the IoT market could grow to $94 billion by 2025.