Samsung, LG join hands to expand global smart home ecosystem

South Korean tech giants Samsung Electronics Co. and LG Electronics Inc. have joined hands to enable consumers to control home appliances of the two brands through a single application, enhancing convenience and efficiency.

According to multiple industry sources on Tuesday, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are engaged in a collaboration to link their home appliances through a smart home platform within this year. The two companies plan to add more inter-operable brands in the long run. The move comes as part of efforts to allow as many consumers to benefit from the bourgeoning smart home ecosystem.

Although industry rivals, Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics are hoping to reach a common goal of “connectivity.”

The two companies operate smart home platforms - Samsung Electronics SmartThings and LG Electronics ThinQ. The platforms so far have only allowed connectivity within the same brand.

Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics accelerated collaboration in the process of commercializing the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA) Standard 1.0 introduced by the HCA, a cooperative body of global home appliance companies for a smart home ecosystem.

The HCA, established in 2022, has been responsible for creating standards that allow smart home apps of 15 member companies to control other members’ home appliances as well as verifying connectivity.

Samsung Electronics, the chair of the HCA, was the first member to complete the application of the HCA standard and start interconnecting with other home appliance brands. LG Electronics, also interested in boosting connectivity, joined Samsung Electronics’ move.

The latest collaboration is seen as significant in that the two companies have opened doors for each other instead of continuous rivalry. They are seen as opting for an open ecosystem that focuses on consumer convenience.

In prior to its collaboration with LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics will begin interconnecting home appliances with Vestel, a Turkish home appliances manufacturer, and Vestel’s partner brand Sharp in September.

Interconnection services this year will begin in eight countries, including Korea and the U.S. Users of the SmartThings app in these countries will be able to control not only Samsung’s home appliances and TVs but also LG, Vestel, and Sharp. It will also be possible to control Samsung’s appliances using LG’s ThinQ app.

Nine types of products will be available for interconnection this year, including refrigerators, washing machines, and air conditioners. Functions include remote operation, shutdown, and monitoring.

Samsung Electronics plans to expand the range of compatible brands in the future and continuously upgrade the service to enable more home appliances and functions, according to a company official.

Next year, the company plans to go beyond device control and include features such as home energy management and connectivity for products including electric vehicle chargers.

“Samsung SmartThings has been at the forefront of building a smart home ecosystem based on openness to connect more than 300 partner devices,” said Park Chan-woo, executive vice president leading the home appliances division at Samsung Electronics.

LG Electronics also plans to enter into full-scale discussions on home appliance connectivity with Vestel. As a leading member in the HCA, LG Electronics is driving the commercialization of standards and plans to offer more features and services that not only interconnect appliances but also enhance customer convenience.

LG Electronics is not only active in the HCA but also takes a multifaceted approach to expanding the smart home ecosystem by participating as a leader in the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA).

CSA develops open communication protocols for smart home devices and has over 500 member companies. LG Electronics is actively involved in the development and standardization of Matter, an Internet Protocol (IP)-based home Internet of Things (IoT) communication standard technology led by CSA.

“With our smart home platform LG ThingQ, we will expand our barrier-free home appliance ecosystem to provide new smart home experiences to more customers,” said Jung Ki-hyun, vice president of LG Electronics.