Home Technology runs your home smartly and remotely via web/mobile

The Home Technology system, which has been developed by the French-based company of the same name, acts as home-care support by monitoring and analysing the level of activity in any given zone within the home over any given time period, whilst not intruding.

The system manages an anti-intrusion alarm system with a double-detection function, which detects movement from sensor to sensor (rather than zone to zone), taking into account more than one sensor trigger, thus avoiding false alarms. An integrated battery will supply several hours' autonomy in the event of a power cut.

Home Technology's product can control gas and oil boilers, electric radiators (with or without pilot wires), hot-water tanks and heat pumps, while using eight programmable time periods daily. The user is informed about any change in temperature relative to the required temperature, as programmed by him (or her).

The system has a home-safety functionality, which informs the user of any power cuts. It will also automate routine tasks such as controlling indoor and outdoor lighting, shutters, blinds, entrance gates and garage doors. Furthermore, applications related to power-consumption analysis and video surveillance are currently being developed by the company.

The set-up is entirely plug & play, requiring no specific configuration on the part of the user. The GPRS mobile-telephony network run by telecoms group Orange can take over via an integrated SIM card, which means that the system may be installed inside a secondary residence where there is no broadband access. The SIM card operates throughout the entire European network, and there is no impact on subscriber rates.

For protection purposes, all communication is secure throughout the chain between the mobile device, the server architecture and the system. To make sure that any command sent is performed, the system sends a confirmation to the server to that effect. It is also possible to configure SMS and/or email alerts for all critical functionalities, including anti-intrusion alarms, heat settings, home safety, and home-care support.

The system is compatible with most browsers used on desk tops, tablets and mobile phones (including iPhone and Android devices), along with those using wireless access points (WAP). An application programming interface (API) is available to develop mobile applications under other operating systems.

The Home Technology application is hosted on secure servers managed by machine-to-machine (M2M) communications specialist Sierra Wireless. There are 53 of these servers with duplicated architecture (located in Canada), ensuring full scalability. Moreover, these servers perform updates on embedded software (whether broadband or GPRS), along with remote diagnostics of the system, its peripherals, or even of the SIM card itself.

In order to communicate with home appliances, Home Technology has developed a 433/868 MHz (AM and FM) radio architecture by integrating the proprietary protocols from leaders in every targeted market, so that there are currently over 150 peripherals that are compatible with the system. Compatibility is provided for Delta Dore X2D, Optex, X10, Thomson and Visonic Group, and it will be extended to other companies in the coming months.

To meet the needs of the smart-grid market, the electronic card is ready to include Zigbee, a suite of high-level communication protocols, as well as the Wireless Meter-Bus module (i.e. the European standard for the remote reading of gas and electricity meters).

The solution developed by Home Technology is affordable: a yearly subscription, which includes M2M-platform services and the SIM card, costs €399 (including tax). This comprises 2 MB per month in transfers on the SIM card, as well as 50 SMS per annum. The subscription may be renewed the following year for €69 only.

About Home Technology

Home Technology was founded in France in 2009 in order to offer affordable and integrated home-automation systems that can manage alarms and heat settings remotely.

In November 2011, and thanks to three years of R&D, Home Technology was granted patent protection by Institut national de la propriété industrielle (or INPI, the French institute for the protection of industrial property).

Thanks to its track record in high technology, Home Technology has established excellent working relationships with such renowned companies as Sierra Wireless (the global front-runner in M2M communications), Orange (the leading European telecoms operator), Delta Dore (one of Europe's top home-automation specialists) and Optex Security (world leader in motion detection).

For further information about Sierra Wireless, please go to: http://www.sierrawireless.com/

For further information about Home Technology, please go to: www.home-technology.eu

For further information, please contact :

Quote ref. : FTPB3754
Ms Katherine WOODS – Press Officer
UBIFRANCE Press Office in London
Tel: +44 (0) 207 024 3640
katherine.woods@ubifrance.fr