Smart electronics manufacturer Haier made noise at CES 2014 when its announced the release of the Tianzun air conditioner, the first item authorized by Apple's MFi Program.
The Tianzun air conditioner is so far the only piece of hardware to be authorized to use Apple's authorization program. The air conditioner will sync with any iPhone automatically and allow the user to set parameters for the air conditioner directly without registration, set up passwords and other time consuming tasks the come with connecting an item to WiFi. Haier hopes to use Apple's MFi program for their other products, including water hearts, ovens, intelligent home accessories and more. The Haier Tianzum air conditioner marks the beginning of a new generation smart-enables appliances.
Pictures courtesy of http://ces.cnet.com/2300-35306_1-10019379-6.html
Smartphone-Connected Air Conditioners
The Tianzun Air Conditioner Premieres at CES 2014
Trend Themes
1. Smart-enabled Appliances - Manufacturers can create new lines of home appliances that sync with smartphones to make daily tasks easier and more automated.
2. Mfi Authorization Program Integration - Companies can integrate Apple's MFi program into their smart devices for automatic registration and connectivity to iPhones.
3. Iot Smart Home Integration - The trend towards smart home integration with IoT devices can be applied to air conditioning units, ovens, water heaters etc., making them easier for users to control with their smartphones.
Industry Implications
1. Smart Home Appliances - Companies can create new generations of smart-enabled home appliances that can be controlled remotely from smartphones for a more seamless experience.
2. Air Conditioning Manufacturing - Air conditioning manufacturers can apply IoT technology to offer smarter and easier ways for users to control their air conditioning units.
3. Smartphone Accessory Manufacturing - Smartphone accessory manufacturers can look at opportunities to create add-ons that make it easier to control smart home appliances, such as the Haier Tianzun air conditioner, with smartphones.