Panasonic expands cloud, NFC-enabled appliances, adds app
updated 07:22 am EDT, Tue August 21, 2012
Panasonic brings the connected home to life through the cloud, NFC
Panasonic has expanded its Smart Home Appliance range with the arrival of full cloud support, NFC functionality and a new Android app [Free, Google Play. The range of connected appliances will include air conditioners, refrigerators, kitchen appliances and healthcare products. These join will join its NFC-enabled microwave oven and rice cooker that can have programming instructions for recipes found online automatically enabled with the swipe of a NFC-enabled Android smartphone.
While Apple's current iPhones do not support NFC, they are still compatible with parts of Panasonic's connected cloud service through a separate app allowing remote control of appliance functions. Users of the Panasonic Smart App will be able to control their air conditioners remotely, set their preferred washing cycle or control the temperature of their fridge. Users of Panasonic health products will be able track and graph their weight and food intake.
The majority of the home appliances will be on sale in Japan by the end of the year with some devices having shipped from June onwards. While likely only for the Japanese domestic market in the short to medium term, they products are another indication of the potential of NFC and cloud-based technologies. The dream of the connected home appears to be on its way to becoming mainstream.
