Comcast to extend home automation services to all Xfinity customers

Comcast said it will be expanding its home automation capabilities across its entire Xfinity services product portfolio, bringing the services to over 15 million customers. The portfolio includes X1 (TV and voice remote), xFi (WiFi), Xfinity Home (home security), and Xfinity Mobile. The company also wants builders to integrate the system directly into single and multi-family homes during the building process. 

First, Comcast will integrate the know-how of Stringify, bought in September, into Xfinity’s products and services, strongly expanding the capabilities of Xfinity automation. With the integration, Xfinity customers will be able to create, use and manage controls for a growing ecosystem of popular brands like August, Carrier, Chamberlain, ecobee, GE, Honeywell, Kwikset, Liftmaster, LIFX, Lutron, Nest, Netgear Arlo, Philips Hue, Danalock, Sengled, SkyBell, Tile, Yale, Zen Ecosystems and more, for no additional charge. 

Comcast has also launched a new programme for property developers to integrate the Xfinity smart home automation platform into the building process. Headed by Xfinity Communities, Comcast’s business unit servicing the multifamily property market, the programme allows residents to purchase homes with built-in, state-of-the-art automation technologies from Xfinity Home.

Comcast’s ‘Works with Xfinity’ programme facilitates the integration of smart home devices into its single, unified Xfinity platform. The company plans to expand its partner ecosystem to include new product categories such as wearables, automotive, voice assistants, email, and social media platforms. 

With the smart home capabilies, people could, for example, control their home using the X1 voice remote. Saying “Good Night,” would automatically lock doors, turn off lights, adjust thermostats, and arm their home security system. Alternatively, people could elect to receive a notification when their child comes home from school by integrating geo-location technology in a smartphone with a connection to the home xFi Wireless Gateway. Comcast launched xFI in May. 

There are also xFI, mesh Wi-Fi extenders for the home, which the company recently launched in Boston and Chicago. The Pods cost USD 119 for a three-pack and USD 199 for a six-pack. Availability will rapidly expand to a full national rollout in the coming months. There is the X1 Voice Phone Finder, a new feature that Xfinity Mobile customers can use to search for and locate their mobile phone in their homem using the X1 voice remote. Finally, Comcast has added enhanced features to its Xfinity Home Security Cameras to help consumers monitor their front doors. Its new AI-powered platform identifies movement, centers on the subject, and delivers a crystal-clear thumbnail image.