Microsoft is planning a big push into home automation on the back of the Insteon network, supporting the launch of a free App with space in its stores for tons of new Insteon devices.
Insteon is one of the least talked about home automation networks, which came out of Californian specialist SmartLabs and which works both in the usual ISM radio spectrum, the same as ZigBee and Z-Wave, but also over powerline, with both systems working in a single mesh for high reliability.
It may be the least talked about in technology circles, but because it came along long before either of its more famous cousins (20 years ago), but it is more widely installed in the US at least and is leaking out to the rest of the world fairly rapidly.
This week Insteon announced that a new version of its app for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8 will come out in June, and it will find itself pride of place in Microsoft retail stores, and that includes sales of lots of new Insteon devices ‘ so Microsoft is giving Insteon a real push. One of the problems for Microsoft is that every new Z-Wave and ZigBee system begins with an iOS version and then moves to Android, and then promptly doesn’t bother to write a Windows version of the App until much later, if at all.
Insteon in March announced connectivity to the Nest Thermostat, now owned by Google, and last year won awards for its Insteon light bulb, where US homeowners can automate their lighting by having the control built into long lasting bulbs, controlled by their smart phones.
Insteon has products in virtually every type of home automation including lighting, security cameras, door and window locks.
New features for the Windows App include, Visitor Mode which provides restricted access to children or guests in your home, Live Tiles which gives you status updates on multiple devices directly Windows Start screen; Enhanced Camera Support, allowing multiple camera views at once, a full-screen view and connections to cameras without an Insteon home Hub. It can also handle more than one house or business and comes with a full dashboard view where you can view all the controlled devices at once.
Microsoft Stores will offer an Insteon range including a Starter Kit, Home Kit and Business Kit and five standalone devices, including the Insteon Leak Sensor, Open/Close Sensor, LED Bulb, On/Off Module and Wireless Wi-Fi Camera with prices starting at $29.99 up to $79.99, and kits starting at $199. There are more than 200 devices that can attach to an Insteon network, the company said.