Bang & Olufsen launches BeoLink SmartHome

Thursday, February 4th, 2016
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Bang & Olufsen launches BeoLink SmartHome at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2016

AMSTERDAM — Integrated Systems Europe — Bang & Olufsen has chosen ISE in Amsterdam, the world’s best attended AV, System Integration and Communication exhibition, as the platform for launching a new and innovative way of connecting Bang & Olufsen products with all other technology products in the home through an open, cloud-based architecture called BeoLink SmartHome.

The BeoLink SmartHome solution allows the user to connect Bang & Olufsen products with other technology products in the home and offers full integration with some of the largest home integrators such as Crestron, Control4 and Savant.

CEO & President Tue Mantoni says: “In the development of the BeoLink SmartHome the key words for us were openness and flexibility. Bang & Olufsen is the global leader in creating high quality, innovative and beautiful sound and picture experiences and our dream was to integrate these experiences with other in-home technology solutions through a simple, cloud-based system. That is exactly what BeoLink SmartHome is doing.”

One of Bang & Olufsen’s signature experiences is that a user can control all Bang & Olufsen TV and audio systems and third-party products such as e.g. Apple TV, Blu-ray players and game consoles with one beautiful and intuitive Bang & Olufsen remote control. These experiences are now further extended with the BeoLink SmartHome, where a multitude of technologies can be integrated through a secure remote, cloud-based connection enabling a simple, intuitive control of hundreds of third-party devices and home automation systems.

CEO & President Tue Mantoni says: “The IoT is a catalyst for creating smart, integrated experiences in the home and with BeoLink SmartHome we create the future of living. BeoLink SmartHome allows the user to control lights, curtains, room temperature, alarm systems and other everyday home-based technologies in the simple and intuitive way that Bang & Olufsen has become known for.”

New technologies and providers are continuously added. Recently, Nest security systems, thermostats, smoke detectors and Amazon Echo were included in the solution. The latter allows for performing voice-controlled commands. BeoLink SmartHome settings are changed and controlled using the Bang & Olufsen BeoRemote or BeoLink App.

IFTTT enabled Internet of Things (IoT)

Bang & Olufsen is among the first audio-video companies to offer an IFTTT-enabled channel in the Internet of Things (IoT) world. IFTTT (short for “If This Then That”) allows users to create chains of simple conditional commands.

Head of Bang & Olufsen System Solutions Brian Bjørn Hansen states: “IFTTT provides Bang & Olufsen customers with intelligent and flexible options for programming their homes and combining products and services that are not at the outset directly connected to one another. An example could be ‘when the sun rises, turn up the lights in the bedroom and start playing music from a pre-defined playlist on your BeoSound 35’ or send a text message to ‘turn off all your BeoLink products’ to make sure the kids are studying and not watching TV.”

Bang & Olufsen has 30 years of experience with system integration in the analogue world and has continuously refined its approach to design, functionality and unique user experiences. BeoLink SmartHome takes this unique experience into an IoT world by leveraging new technology, cloud-based solutions and the fast growth of home integrators.

The set-up and configuration have been radically simplified in the BeoLink SmartHome compared to market standards. The Bang & Olufsen Real-time Configuration Tool is pre-installed with hundreds of drivers and is based on a simple graphic interface to take the coding out of home automation programming. What normally takes days now takes hours, and is far easier than any other system to set up, modify and update.

Cloud services providing a secure remote connection dedicated to Bang & Olufsen solutions allow custom installers extreme flexibility when upgrading or servicing existing setups from a remote location. In this way, customers will get new features or services quickly and without hassle.

BeoLink SmartHome is enabled through the BeoLink Gateway, which is available in Bang & Olufsen approved retailers at a recommended retail price of €1,295/£1,095/DKK 9,995. Bang & Olufsen retailers and approved custom technology integrators provide design and installation services for projects and solutions of all types and sizes. For a complete list of retailers and installers, please visit Bang-Olufsen.com.

Bang & Olufsen is present at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2016 in Amsterdam from 9-12 February 2016 in Hall 5 on Stand R80 and will be demonstrating the BeoLink SmartHome to press, installers, integrators and consumers. Amongst other scenarios, Bang & Olufsen demonstrates how BeoLink SmartHome can combine BeoLink products with different smart devices and how this can be used in an everyday user scenario. At ISE, Bang & Olufsen will also present BeoLab 90, the most innovative and radical loudspeaker solution to date, and BeoSound 35, the all-in-one multi-room music system.