All Articles Tagged Xfinity

Julie Jacobson | 05/29 10:05 AM, 0 Comments

UPDATE following the story: Cox is using the ZigBee-enabled platform that iControl acquired from uControl. Add Cox Communications to the growing list of cable companies and other service providers who are getting into the home automation and home security business. First came Comcast/Xfinity Home (formerly Comcast Home Security), then Verizon Home Monitoring and Control, Time Warner Cable and AT&T Digital Life. CE Pro came across a job description for a vice president, Cox Smart Home Business. The new executive: Leads the start-up and scaling of Cox Smart Home business portfolio,… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 03/05 09:08 AM, 0 Comments

Xfinity is easing consumers into the smart home. When it launched its home automation service in 2010, the cable company called it Comcast Home Security. Now Comcast is Xfinity and the service is called Xfinity Home. Period. “We had planned the name change for quite some time,” says Mitch Bowling, SVP and general manager, new businesses, Comcast Cable. “When we launched the service in 2010 in Houston, consumers did not really understand what the smart home and home automation was, but security did resonate so we decided to go out… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 07/19 07:44 AM, 4 Comments

Verizon demonstrated a home automation and security solution at CES 2011, but the telco hasn’t said much since January. Now it appears we have a price for Verizon Home Monitoring and Control, which is powered by Motorola 4Home: $9.99 per month for basic service. The Tampa Tribune reports that Verizon will offer three levels of service, with the basic package enabling remote monitoring and control of cameras and Z-Wave devices (lighting, motorized door locks, appliances). A second option includes “energy-monitoring gadgets like automatic thermostats, special Wi-Fi adapters that control appliances… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 06/08 05:50 PM, 5 Comments

Today we learn a few things about Xfinity Home Security that we hadn't reported before: The monthly cost for the security/home automation service is cheaper than most, but hardly free; six more cities will get the service after last year's launch in Houston; and Xfinity will do its own security installations, rather than use a third-party provider. And one more thing: Xfinity will use iControl SMA, the home-control platform formerly known as uControl. Just as we suspected. Neither Xfinity nor iControl has made a formal announcement about the iControl deal,… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 04/18 08:19 AM, 0 Comments

Since announcing its new home security and automation system in 2010, Xfinity (formerly Comcast) has said little about its service, including whose products the cable giant would use. That hasn't changed, but at least there there has been some movement from Xfinity in the past month. Comcast.com/homesecurity used to feature only home control systems based on iControl – just like the systems offered by ADT Pulse. Recently, however, Xfinity began showing products based on uControl – the organization that "merged" with iControl in November 2010. Enter the Xfinity Home Security… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 04/18 07:53 AM, 0 Comments

CE Pro speculates that Xfinity/Comcast has selected the ZigBee-based uControl platform for its remote home management system. Is that such a good idea? Since announcing its new home security and automation system in 2010, Xfinity (formerly Comcast) has not declared a vendor partner. The cable giant still isn’t saying, but the Web site points to uControl. Originally, Xfinity showcased on its Home Security site a solution based on iControl, the same platform that powers ADT Pulse. Recently, however, a former iControl rival called uControl showed up on the site. uControl… View this story

Jason Knott | 03/09 01:04 PM, 3 Comments

Xfinity has debuted its tech installation service, dubbed Xfinity Signature Support, in three large cities - Minneapolis/St. Paul, Chattanooga and Atlanta - with a full rollout due by summer. According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, technicians will only focus on handling computer viruses, setting up wireless home networks and connecting flat panels to the Internet. The service is being billed as a "home troubleshooting service." The technicians will not be Xfinity employees, but will be provided on a contract basis from "two outside companies" that have partnered with the… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 12/22 01:35 PM, 0 Comments

Security more predictable than content delivery (Frost & Sullivan) Ascent Media Corp. (Nasdaq: ASCMA), a content provider that serves cable companies, broadcast networks and other media-related enterprises, is dumping those businesses and getting into home security instead. Englewood, Colo.-based Ascent is acquiring Monitronics, the second largest residential security monitoring firm in the U.S., in a deal valued at $1.2 billion, including about $413 million in cash. The announcement follows Ascent’s recent sale of “the substantial majority” of media-related properties in its Ascent Media Group (AMG), which provides content and creative… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 12/22 11:50 AM, 0 Comments

How is a CE pro supposed to compete with ADT, Comcast and other mass-market installers aiming to conquer the home automation market? You can't just ignore the big guys. In fact, you may want to exploit them. After all, they'll be spending millions of dollars next year promoting services you've been providing for a decade a more. They will make your future clients aware that technology for remote home management exists, that a pro should do the installation, and that a fair price is $50 or $60 per month. So… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 12/16 08:27 AM, 3 Comments

Have you seen the ADT Pulse ads, where a harried mother is grocery shopping with three rambunctious kids before dropping the little girl off at ballet practice? She says, “My family always keeps me busy. That’s why ADT Pulse is so great. If I forget to arm my security system, I can do it right from my phone.” Currently, more than a dozen similar commercials are running on the Internet (seriously, are all kids that boisterous?) but they’re destined for the national airwaves soon. Not far behind is Xfinity (formerly… View this story