The iPad’s Impact on The Home Automation Industry
April 5, 2010 |
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By guest blogger, Greg Rhoades, Associate Director of Marketing, HAI
Remote access and connection to third party devices is not new to the home automation industry. In 1988, HAI’s Model 1503 controller included telephone access so homeowners could activate their alarm from anywhere in the world, or use it within their own home as an extra interface. In 2001, we introduced systems that connect to popular third-party PDA’s, allowing visual wireless access to the home via a Touchscreen device.
Will the iPad kill touch panels? No. Lots of people will still want a dedicated machine to control their home – one that doesn’t go to the park or travel to the school library. One that can run multiple applications at once. One that allows the homeowner to immediately disarm their alarm system from a keypad, without having to wait for the app to load and connect. Also, if the glass is as fragile as my iPhone, which has shattered twice from minor drops, many people will desire the durability offered in a home control specific touchscreen.
That said, this potential revolution can’t be ignored. Effects will resonate throughout the industry. Many homeowners realize the cost efficiency of purchasing an iPad or other, yet to be released, tablet like HP and Dell models. Will we see companies introduce wall mounts, extended batteries, and other options that will be valuable to our market? Yes. But there’s still a need for a dedicated machines in many instances, especially commercial installations.
Applications are being used by many companies as a tool to sell the equipment they do manufacture. Other companies are selling discount apps, but they’re reselling the hardware (iPad) and thus make their profit that way. There are a lot of different theories, and I suspect we’ll see a plethora of strategies. For instance, although our dealers don’t profit directly from our development of an app, they can also charge for setup (which is incredibly simple) of the homeowner’s device, just as they would any other installation.
HAI’s own iPad app will be available in the 2nd Quarter of 2010. The Snap-Link Mobile is a one-time download for under $50 that allows total home control on an iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch. If the client has a home, business, and vacation home outfitted with HAI, they use the exact same app to access all properties, which is especially beneficial to property managers.
We understand every installation requires a unique solution, with a mixture of many manufacturer’s pieces and parts, and we remain open to connectivity with our partners in the industry.
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April 5th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Snaplink on the iPhone / iPad will be cool but it still isn’t a full featured keypad! The real problem here is that if software was available on the iPad then the omnitouch automatically becomes obsolete. The pricing for the omnitouch in-wall and portable are considerably more expensive and less feature packed than an iPad. Now if a more substantial software package on par with the 10 inch omnitouch portable was sold to work on the iPad I think that would be market changing for the HA industry in this segment.
April 7th, 2010 at 9:06 am
I tend to agree with Neil. Snap-Link is great but being able to extend the functionality using Home Automation Studio to add further functionality and customisation of control such as control of the A/V equipment, Pool or other in addition to the Snap-Link type shell would be an absolutely Kick A** offering.
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April 8th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
Thanks for the comments, guys.
HAI certainly realizes the potential of that option, and has developed a great plan for the future.
Note that with the onslaught of tablets (including Dell, HP, and other low-priced third parties that are bound to pop-up), manufacturers will be looking hard at ways to improve their interface options.
April 22nd, 2010 at 3:52 am
Very cool, I have been following the ipad\’s release closely and will keep following it until I am able to get one.Anybody know when the iPad will be released outside USA.Cheersi
May 4th, 2010 at 6:50 am
I think the hype of the iPad is similar to them of the iPhone. The functionality is brilliant because you can use the apps of the iPhone. I would like it to play the Race Games on it!
May 12th, 2010 at 2:28 pm
This IPad thing is certainly looking superb… the whole set of specific features and so on… but now I read this, I promptly dislike it in almost any respect. I am a very pleased owner of an iTouch (2nd Generation) and I think this particular thing has upgraded considerably when compared to the primary generation. And for that reason it will always be upgraded, but don’t forget that … Do not ever purchase a product from Apple whenever it’s only 1 year available, they may improve it nevertheless they often improve step by step to acheive increase sales using their company solutions… Really wise people