From thermostats to door locks, AT&T Digital Life brings the Internet of Things home
Of the four major U.S. wireless carriers, AT&T Mobility stakes its claim as being the leader in the “Internet of Things” arena in terms of investment and commercialization. In the industrial space, AT&T’s Global SIMs allow for asset tracking and other services around the globe; for the average consumer, the integrated Digital Life product line brings connectivity to your home.
Digital Life is the focus of a recent RCR Wireless News trip to Atlanta, where AT&T invited us into their midtown offices to discuss Digital Life and how IoT products go from the lab to homes around the country.
Betsy Francis, area VP of sales and marketing for AT&T Mobility, offered insight into the home automation and security product line and what’s next from the carrier in terms of consumer IoT technology.
Francis gave an overview of Digital Life, which is available in 83 markets around the country, as well as the mobile app that controls the home automation system.
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“AT&T Digital Life is smart home, security and automation solution,” Francis explained. “It offers traditional, professionally-monitored security. It also offers automated solutions such as camera solutions, energy, door locks, water controls and we are brining IoT devices to smart homes everywhere. … The app itself is really the hero of the device. the traditional home security and solutions that you have in the home can be found elsewhere. It’s the app that really brings the magic together.” alerts on home screen, you can see video from cameras, “Through your app you can control and personalize your solution.”
Some examples of personalization include receiving text or email notifications when a door opens, for example; a user can also schedule tasks such as lights turning on at sunrise. There’s even the option to set up protocols that could time doors to unlock, lights to turn on and the air conditioning to kick in when the garage door opens.
So what’s next? Francis said the connected car “is a really interesting integration for us. That could be something as simple as geo-fencing where you’ve pulled off for work and without having to take any action, your home shuts down for the day. The car becomes just another screen basically for your Digital Life app.”
She also discussed ongoing trials around personal security, which “is the home security element that you take with you. I’m a runner so I like to take that out with me on a run. In the event that I don’t come back in an hour, it can notify someone.”