UK energy provider npower, has partnered with D-Link and other leading manufacturers to trial a fully integrated smart home experience to build on the growing appetite for connected living.
As one of the leading providers of smart home technology, D-Link joins other leading smart home brands, Nest Labs and Yale in the trial to pool their collective strengths in heating, security, energy and wireless networking solutions. All products and solutions will be controlled by a new npower app with a focus on energy and security driving the offering.
The interactive trial will last six months involving 300 homes in the Midlands. The aim is to better understand how consumers use the technology in their homes and establish the benefits and improvements around security, convenience and cost savings that can be made.
“The connected home is now on its way to becoming a reality and will have a major impact on the way people use and save energy in the home,” said Neil Pennington, npower’s director of innovation.
“We aim to be at the forefront of smart home technology and this trial will provide valuable data and insight into how consumers actually use home automation systems, and where they see the benefit to their everyday life.”
Those taking part in the trial, will be offered the npower system to test in their home, a central component of which is D-Link’s hub. Users will be able to connect wirelessly via the npower app to an array of D-Link devices, including cameras, door and window contact sensors, motion sensors and smart plugs as well as have access to the Nest Learning Thermostat and Yale’s keyless and key free smart locks.
The initiative builds on the growing trend for smart homes as the many advantages that connected living presents become more widely known. This partnership is a step closer to providing consumers with a fully integrated home automation offering.
Paul Howard, technical director, Service Provider Business for D-Link Europe, commented: “The home automation market has experienced significant growth, evident from the expansive range of products and services available to consumers. This partnership with npower has allowed D-Link and other leading brands to create a family of connected home products that will work together in unison, providing a fully integrated system that will ultimately make life easier.”
Howard added: “Working with npower in growing the capabilities of smart home technology is an extremely rewarding opportunity to be part of.”