QIVICON

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Qivicon is an alliance of companies from different industries[1] that was founded in 2011 by Deutsche Telekom.[2] The companies are collaborating on a cross-vendor, wireless-based home automation solution that has been available in the German market since fall 2013.[3] It includes products in the areas of energy, security, and comfort. Qivicon won repeat awards from the international management consulting company Frost & Sullivan’s. In 2016, Frost & Sullivan has awarded Qivicon with the European Connected Home New Product Innovation Award. In 2014, the smart home platform has been awarded with the European Visionary Innovation Leadership Award in recognition of what the management consulting company saw as the most innovative Smart Home solution of the year.[4]

Aims[]

Qivicon has stated that it would like to take the "Smart Home" further forward around the world.[5] Its aim is to establish a vendor-neutral solution that enables users to combine different brands of Smart Home solutions and thereby makes home automation possible for everyone.[6][7] The alliance uses Smart Home optimized wireless protocols to make solutions easy to install in any home without needing to lay cables. Qivicon reckons that a Smart Home solution will be all the more attractive for the user the more companies offer compatible devices for use in different areas. The technical platform is international and open for companies of all sizes and in all industries.[8] Qivicon wants to enable its partners to gain access to the Smart Home market with the aid of a technical platform, thereby enabling them to make use of the new market and open up new business models.

Members[]

It currently consists of over 43 companies in different industries such as energy, electrical and household appliances, security and telecommunications.[9][10] Qivicon partners include Deutsche Telekom, E wie Einfach, eQ-3, Miele, Samsung and Philips.[11] In March 2018, Deutsche Telekom announced that it had integrated the Home Connect platform, which works with Bosch and Siemens connected devices, into Qivicon to enable greater functunality between the two. For example, as well as being able to control connected Bosch and Siemens appliances directly via the Home Connect app. DT also announced a number of new compatible devices broaden the Qivicon portfolio, such as the Nest Protect smoke and CO alarm.

Platform[]

The Qivicon platform has been around in the German market since the fall of 2013. It connects and combines controllable devices made by different manufacturers. Every partner company can market their product offer of its own and develop apps to control them. To date, the product portfolio consists of devices such as motion detectors, smoke detectors, water detectors, wireless adapters for power outlets, door and window contact, temperature and humidity sensors, wireless switches, carbon monoxide sensors, thermostats, cameras, household appliances (e. g. washing machines, dryers, coffee machines), weather stations, sound systems and lighting controls.[12]

The platform’s technical control unit, its home base, is connected to the Internet via a broadband connection in the house or apartment.[13] In August 2016, Qivicon launched a new generation of the home base focusing on international markets. The range of different models will keep up with the diverse range of wireless protocols found throughout the international market. The models all have an identical outward appearance. But they differ in terms of their pre-installed protocols. For example, the model designed for the German market, and several other markets, already includes the protocols HomeMatic, ZigBee Pro and the inclusion of HomeMatic IP and DECT ULE has also been completed. Another model includes the ZigBee Pro and Z-Wave radio modules. All versions of the new home base can be connected to home DSL routers either by cable, wirelessly, via Wi-Fi or via Deutsche Telekom´s Speedport Smart router.[14][15]

The system can be expanded to include other wireless standards by means of USB sticks for which there are four corresponding slots in the home base of the first generation and two slots in the second generation.[16] Qivicon partners’ devices can be controlled and monitored via various partner apps for the smartphone, the tablet or the PC.[17] Since November 2017 Qivicon is compatible with Alexa from Amazon. Users can control lights, blinds or alarm systems with their voice via Amazon Echo or Google Home.[18]

In March 2017, Deutsche Telekom launched a White Label Smart Home portfolio[19] that includes platform, gateways, applications, compatible devices and services. The portfolio is designed to help telecommunications service providers, utility providers, hardware manufacturers and other enterprises create and offer smart home services.

Deutsche Telekom extended its international footprint within the smart home sector by partnering with Cosmote, the largest mobile operator in Greece and part of the OTE group, as well as Hitch in Norway, adding Greece and Norway to Qivicon's current footprint of Germany, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Austria, and Italy.[20][21]

AV-Test, an IT security test institution, rates Qivicon as “secure”.[22] It found that the Smart Home platform used encryption for communication and provided protection from unauthorized access. [23]

References[]

  1. ^ Kuhn, Lothar et al. Kleine Muskeln, große Fische. Wirtschaftswoche. 31.03.2014.
  2. ^ Qivicon Press release headed Vernetztes Haus: Telekom Plattform Qivicon (ehemals ‘Smart Connect’) ermöglicht Steuerung von Waschmaschinen, Heizung und Photovoltaik-Anlagen. Archived May 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine 02.09.2011.
  3. ^ Frost & Sullivan Recognizes Deutsche Telekom's Visionary Excellence in Leveraging the Dynamics within the European Connected Living Ecosystem. Wallstreet-online.de. 30.06.2014.
  4. ^ Frost & Sullivan Applauds Deutsche Telekom’s Breakthrough Innovation for the European Connected Home Market. Frost & Sullivan, August 22, 2016
  5. ^ Philpott, Michael. Deutsche Telekom continues to expand its Qivicon smart home platform, https://ovum.informa.com/resources/product-content/ces006-000016
  6. ^ Hauptfleisch, Klaus. Smart Home erobert den Massenmarkt. Computerwoche.de. 25.03.2014.
  7. ^ Rodrigues, Stéphane. Des opérateur télécoms se diversifient dans le marché de l’énergie. cleantechrepublic.com. 06.03.2014.
  8. ^ Rockmann, Thomas. Telecoms.com http://telecoms.com/opinion/an-evolution-in-integration-the-smart-home-is-on-the-rise/
  9. ^ Deutsche Telekom plugs into the future with digital ‘Steckerleiste’. Smart-grid.tmcnet.com. 07.03.2014.
  10. ^ Griesel, Frank: Smarte Haussteuerung. Bundesbaublatt. 07.03.2014.
  11. ^ http://www.smarthome.telekom.net/our-portfolio
  12. ^ Qivicon. List of compatible products. qivicon.com. 18.07.2014.
  13. ^ Das Haus wird intelligent. Ratgeber bauen: Traumhäuser. 31.03.2014.
  14. ^ QIVICON growing – new markets, new partner offers QIVICON growing – new markets, new partner offers. 22.08.2016
  15. ^ "Speedport to now control Deutsche Telekom's end-user offering - IoT Now - How to run an IoT enabled business". IoT Now - How to run an IoT enabled business. 2017-05-25. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  16. ^ Sietmann, Richard. Häuserkampf. Archived May 23, 2014, at the Wayback Machine c’t Magazin Online, 19.03.2014.
  17. ^ Brajkovic, Sandra: Daheim in der Zukunft. Welt.de, 03.03.2014.
  18. ^ AG, Deutsche Telekom. "Deutsche Telekom: New partnerships and devices for increased security and comfort in your smart home". www.telekom.com. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  19. ^ Tomás, Juan Pedro (2017-03-29). "Deutsche Telekom unveils While Label Smart Home platform". Enterprise IoT Insights. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  20. ^ Philpott, Michael. "Deutsche Telekom continues to expand Qivicon smart home platform". ovum.informa.com. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  21. ^ Garratt, Jon (2018-05-17). "Deutsche Telekom in Norwegian smart home push". ITEuropa. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  22. ^ "The QIVICON smart home platform provides outstanding protection - QIVICON". www.qivicon.com. Retrieved 2018-07-26.
  23. ^ "Integral - The SmartHome Company". integralsmarthome.uk. Retrieved 2020-11-18.

Bibliography[]

Ohland, Günther. Smart-Living. Books on Demand, Norderstedt 2013. ISBN 978-3-7322923-0-1.

External links[]

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