OREANDA-NEWS.   International management consultancy Frost & Sullivan has announced smart home platform QIVICON as the winner of its European Visionary Innovation Leadership Award, naming QIVICON as the most innovative solution of its kind in 2014. “There are still a large number of silo solutions in the smart home space,” laments Olivia Price-Walker, Senior Consultant at Frost & Sullivan. “But QIVICON is an independent platform that supports products from multiple vendors. As a result, users have a wider choice of applications. And this approach is fast turning QIVICON into the gold standard for smart home technology.”

Sophisticated lighting control
This fall, customizable app-controlled lighting system Philips hue will be integrated with the QIVICON platform. Users will continue to benefit from the solution’s standard functionality. And in addition, they will now be able to control their LED lights via selected apps developed by QIVICON partners. Going forward, these applications will support rules and scenarios that enable QIVICON-compatible devices to interoperate with hue lights. For example, users will be able to create the perfect atmosphere for watching TV – with window shutters that automatically close, and hue lights switching to movie theater mode. Existing Philips hue customers will be able to connect their systems to the QIVICON Home Base via any standard, commercially available router. “Digital integration offers consumers a host of possibilities for their homes, helping them use lighting to create the perfect setting for any occasion,” remarks Susanne Schmitz, Senior Marketing Director at Philips Lighting for German-speaking countries.

New energy partner
RheinEnergie is the fourth utility to join the QIVICON partner network. The energy supplier for the Rhine region develops and markets new products, promoting energy efficiency, safety and security in the home. From late 2014, RheinEnergie customers will be able to intelligently manage their energy consumption and keep track of what’s going on within their own four walls, even while they’re out. “QIVICON is an open platform that supports efficiency, security, safety, comfort and convenience in our customers’ homes. It is important for us to have a robust, reliable technology infrastructure in place that evolves in line with changing requirements and guarantees the level of data security we need,” explains RheinEnergie Head of Sales Uwe Schцneberg.

Simplifying complex building systems
myScenario has also become a QIVICON platform partner. The specialist for simple operation of windows, doors and solar protection systems will support development and provide expert advice. A myScenario app will soon enable customers to define complex rules and processes for themselves: for example, they will be able to program shutters to automatically close in bright sunlight or windows to shut if the home owner goes out. “We are delighted with this new partnership,” explains Stephan Schmidt, CEO of myScenario.” Currently, QIVICON offers the best way of making building automation systems more accessible to customers.”