SK Telecom Expands its Smart Home Platform by Joining Hands with Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics

• Plans to interconnect its Smart Home Platform with respective smart home platforms of Samsung and LG within this year
• Aims to further expand the open ecosystem built around its Smart Home platform by working closely with companies of diverse industries

SK Telecom (NYSE:SKM) today announced its cooperation with Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics to interconnect its Smart Home Platform with respective smart home platforms of Samsung and LG. Once realized, SK Telecom’s Smart Home users will be able to control and monitor Samsung and LG’s electronic products equipped with their own smart home capabilities via SK Telecom’s Smart Home App.
 
In line with the MOU they signed in April, SK Telecom and Samsung Electronics have agreed to realize seamless interworking between their respective smart home platforms within this year. As a result, consumer electronic products - including refrigerators, washing machines, air-conditioners, air-purifiers, robot vacuum cleaners and ovens - equipped with Samsung Electronics' smart home capability can be controlled via SK Telecom's Smart Home app.
 
"We have a strategic plan to collaborate with diverse companies who have their own smart home platforms to maximize effectiveness of customers' use,” said Yoon C. Lee, Vice President and Head of Sales & Marketing Team at Samsung Electronics. “We are delighted to work with SK Telecom who is leading the smart home business in Korea."
 
SK Telecom has also entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with LG Electronics to cooperate in the smart home business. The signing ceremony took place at IFA 2015 taking place from September 4 to 9, 2015 in Berlin. The two companies will work together to realize seamless interworking between their respective smart home platforms within this year. LG’s smart home-capable consumer electronic products, including refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, air-conditioners, speakers, robot vacuum cleaners and ovens, will be controlled via SK Telecom’s Smart Home app.
 
"We are pleased to join hands with SK Telecom in the smart home business to assure the potential of the open ecosystem,” said Choi Seong-ho, Senior Vice President and Head of Smart Business Center at LG Electronics. “We hope this collaboration will become a role-model for both electronics and telecommunications companies to achieve mutual growth.”
 
“We have been making efforts to create an open ecosystem around our Smart Home platform to bring benefits to all stakeholders,” said Cho Young-hoon, Vice President and Head of Smart Home TF at SK Telecom. “Cooperation with two global consumer electronics giants Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics is expected to take smart home to the next level, providing users with greater value and convenience.”
 
Since launching its Smart Home platform in May 2015, SK Telecom has been working aggressively with various partners to promote the growth and development of the smart home/home IoT market by creating an open ecosystem. To date, the company has formed partnerships with over 25 companies of diverse industries, including consumer electronics, furniture and construction, and plans to introduce at least 20 Smart Home-capable products within 2015 and over 30 Smart Home products by 2016.
 
Meanwhile, SK Telecom is participating in IFA 2015 for the first time. The company is showcasing various platforms and services in the areas of smart home, smart shopping and smart appcessories, and expects to seek opportunities to advance into the global markets.
 
At its booth, SK Telecom is demonstrating how smart home-capable products like boiler and air conditioner can be remotely controlled via a mobile app. Visitors can also experience ‘Smart Shelf,’ an interactive advertisement platform that plays ad films on LCD displays; and ‘Smart Shopper,’ an omni-channel platform that enables shoppers to use a barcode scanning device (instead of a shopping cart) to add items to a virtual cart, purchase these items at a self-checkout counter, and have them delivered to their homes.
 
Furthermore, SK Telecom is showcasing a wide array of smart appcessories including laser/LCOS pico projector ‘UO Smart Beam Laser,’ portable Hi-Fi audio ‘UO Linkage,’ and health care device for pets ‘UO Petfit.’