QIVICON

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 international management consulting company Frost & Sullivan’s 2014 European Visionary Innovation Leadership Award in recognition of what the management consulting company saw as the most innovative Smart Home solution of 2014.

Aims

Qivicon has stated that it would like to take the "Smart Home" further forward around the world.[4] 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.[5][6] 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.[7] 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 around 30 companies in different industries such as energy, electrical and household appliances, security and telecommunications.[8][9] Qivicon partners include Deutsche Telekom, EnBW, eQ-3, Miele, Samsung and Philips.[10] Its members include German retailers, online shops, and wholesalers.[11]

Platform

The Qivicon platform has been around in the German market since the fall of 2013.[12] It connects and combines controllable devices made by different manufacturers. Every partner company can market compatible devices of its own or 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) and lighting controls.[13][14]

The platform’s technical control unit, its home base, is connected to the Internet via a broadband connection in the house or apartment.[15] To connect the different devices the control unit uses the HomeMatic wireless standard (868 MHz). The system can be expanded to include other wireless standards such as ZigBee by means of USB sticks for which there are four corresponding slots in the home base.[16] Qivicon partners’ devices can be controlled and monitored via various partner apps for the smartphone, the tablet or the PC.[17]

AV-Test, an IT security test institution, rates Qivicon as “secure”.[18] It found that the Smart Home platform used encryption for communication and provided protection from unauthorized access.[19]

The platform is now available internationally as a white label product.[20][21]

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. 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. ↑ Maier, Sarah. Euronics bleibt hinter den Erwartungen zurück. It-business.de. 26.03.2014.
  5. ↑ Hauptfleisch, Klaus. Smart Home erobert den Massenmarkt. Computerwoche.de. 25.03.2014.
  6. ↑ Rodrigues, Stéphane. Des opérateur télécoms se diversifient dans le marché de l’énergie. cleantechrepublic.com. 06.03.2014.
  7. ↑ Knöpke, Holger. Mit Smart Home Kunden binden. ew Magazin für die Energiewirtschaft. 05.03.2014.
  8. ↑ Deutsche Telekom plugs into the future with digital ‘Steckerleiste’. Smart-grid.tmcnet.com. 07.03.2014.
  9. ↑ Griesel, Frank: Smarte Haussteuerung. Bundesbaublatt. 07.03.2014.
  10. ↑ Qivicon brochure. Pp. 12-13.
  11. ↑ Stuart Wilson. Qivicon ready to work with European retailers. channelemea.com. 14.07.2014.
  12. ↑ Lösel, Sylvia. Eno baut den Bereich Smart Home aus. It-business.de. 25.03.2014.
  13. ↑ Marianne Evans. New partners and solutions for Qivicon. connectingindustry.com. 02.06.2014
  14. ↑ Qivicon. List of compatible products. qivicon.com. 18.07.2014.
  15. ↑ Das Haus wird intelligent. Ratgeber bauen: Traumhäuser. 31.03.2014.
  16. ↑ Sietmann, Richard. Häuserkampf. c’t Magazin Online, 19.03.2014.
  17. ↑ Brajkovic, Sandra: Daheim in der Zukunft. Welt.de, 03.03.2014.
  18. ↑ AV-TEST-Studie, 7 Smart-Home-Starter-Kits im Sicherheits-Test. 28. April 2014.
  19. ↑ M2M Now Magazine. Deutsche Telekom seeks UK/US partners for Qivicon open smart home platform. m2mnow.biz. 03.06.2014.
  20. ↑ Ablondi, Bill. "Analysis: The Smart Home Outlook for Western Europe (3/9/2012)". Hidden Wires. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  21. ↑ Rogerson, Steve. "Connected homes present opportunity and risk, says Deutsche Telekom". IoT M2M Council. Retrieved 9 November 2015.

Bibliography

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

External links

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