O2 Launches Smart Home Service

O2 smart home service appO2 has become the first mobile operator in the UK to launch a consumer smart home service with the introduction of its O2 Home packages, which provide customers with smart technology to use in their homes for a monthly fee.

Subscribers can choose from three different two-year packages, providing smart lighting, heating and security to their home that can be controlled via their smartphone. The smart devices are routed through an O2 Smart Hub which creates an IoT ecosystem for the gome.

O2 Home was first revealed at the start of the year, when it was revealed the company would be working with US network AT&T and IoT firm Tado to bring a version of AT&Ts Digital Life smart home platform to the UK. Vodaphone launched a similar service in Germany around two years ago.

The devices included in the subscription vary from package to package, with some including smart plugs that enable any electrical product to be remotely triggered, and others including open/close sensors that detect whenever doors or windows are being used.

“O2 Home is all about connecting our customers to the people and things that matter,” said Nina Bibby, marketing and consumer director at O2. “Keeping your home up to date with technology shouldn’t be complicated – so we’ve brought together connectivity and smart technology in a simple package to give customers peace of mind wherever they are.

“We’ve made everything simple – with installation experts to help set things up and an app to monitor and control your home 24 hours a day. It’s smart technology for everyone, not just the tech-savvy.”

According to O2, 73 per cent of people are interested in future proofing their homes with smart technology, but only five per cent are currently planning to install IoT devices in 2016.

Lack of confidence is a major hurdle to adoption, with 61 per cent of consumers unsure if they could install and run smart home technology, and 15 per cent not sure they even understand what it means.