Smart home tech is hot right now, and cable giant Comcast has taken some baby steps into the market over the past few years. Wednesday’s announcement at CES is somewhat of a surprise, however: Some 15 million customers that lease an Xfinity gateway will soon have a smart hub via a firmware update at no additional cost.
Comcast sees the step as an important one for the company, especially in light of how pervasive connected home technology has become. Daniel Herscovici, Xfinity Home and Comcast general manager and senior vice president, told Digital Trends that the company is “looking to drive smart home adoption to the masses” with the company’s latest announcement.
The new gateway functionality comes as a result of Comcast’s recent acquisitions, including smart-home control platform Stringify, and it seems like the announcement could be an inflection point for the smart home industry. Between 80 and 90 percent of Xfinity subscribers lease their gateways directly from Comcast. Many of these customers might not otherwise have purchased a smart home platform like Wink or SmartThings, or voice assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant.
“There’s lots of opportunities now that this hub exists to introduce IoT (internet of things) in new and unique ways to the mass market,” Herscovici told us.
For example, Comcast might now pair subscribing to its service with promotions where smart devices such as cameras, locks, or smart light bulbs are part of the package. Herscovici says hundreds of devices will be supported, including “almost all” the most popular ones.
The IoT functionality is set to be introduced across Comcast’s entire Xfinity lineup, including the X1 video platform, its XFi wireless internet offering, Xfinity Home, and Xfinity Mobile. You can also control your smart devices through the Xfinity voice remotes, of which Herscovici says some 18 million have been shipped or provided to customers so far.
Voice control has proven to be a popular feature for Comcast, with the company serving some 500 million voice requests per month, he added.
At this time, there is no solid date for the release of the new functionality, although it should appear later this year. When it becomes available, Herscovici says the company will start to introduce customers to the functionality and how to use it in ways similar to how it introduced voice control.
Either way, thanks in part to Comcast, it looks like smart home tech is only going to become even more mainstream in 2018.
Related Posts
Save up to $500 on Narwal robot vacuums with these Black Friday deals
If you've been waiting for the right moment to outsource your floor cleaning, this is it. Robot vacuums have evolved from clumsy bumpers into genuine cleaning assistants, and Narwal is currently running its biggest savings event of the year. From November 20 through December 1, you can save up to $500 across their lineup, bringing flagship cleaning tech down to much more accessible prices.
Get 50% off this SimpliSafe 8-piece wireless home security system
If “I should really get a security system” has been sitting on your mental to-do list for a while, this SimpliSafe deal makes it much easier to finally check that box. The SimpliSafe 8 Piece Wireless Home Security System is down to $119.99, which is 50% off the usual $239.99 price. You get a full starter kit from one of the best-known DIY security brands, without signing a long-term contract.
Save 20% on the Honeywell Sunturalux LED desk lamp with USB charging
Good lighting can quietly make a big difference in how you work, read, or study—especially if you’re staring at screens for hours. The Honeywell Sunturalux™ LED Desk Lamp (HWT-H01) is designed with that in mind: soft, adjustable light, a compact foldable design, and a couple of USB ports to keep your devices topped up.