Samsung, LG and SK Telecom Join Forces to Own Smart Home Market

SK Telecom, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics have announced a collaboration between the brands to interconnect their Smart Home platforms. This will allow SK’s Smart Home customers to control and monitor Samsung and LG products with the app they already use.

As a result of this deal, consumer electronic products, including refrigerators, washing machines, air-conditioners, air-purifiers, robot vacuum cleaners and ovens that are equipped with Samsung’s smart home capability can be controlled via SK Telecom's Smart Home app.

“We have a strategic plan to collaborate with diverse companies who have their own smart home platforms to maximize effectiveness of customers’ use,” said Yoon C. Lee, VP and Head of Sales & Marketing Team, Samsung Electronics. “We are delighted to work with SK Telecom who is leading the smart home business in Korea.”

LG and SK aren’t there yet, but the agreement says they will work together for seamless interworking between their respective smart home platforms within the year.

“We are pleased to join hands with SK Telecom in the smart home business to assure the potential of the open ecosystem,” said Choi Seong-ho, SVP and Head of Smart Business Center at LG Electronics. “We hope this collaboration will become a role-model for both electronics and telecommunications companies to achieve mutual growth.”

These partnerships are the soul of the developing IoT. Until every platform can communicate with every other one, consumers won’t want to buy in. They need choices of brand, and to still have all of the peripherals work together in their home networks.

Turns out there is an ‘IoT’ in team, after all.