Founded in 2014, Athom is a privately held, Dutch technology company with a mission to make the smart home easy and fun for everyone, complementary to smart speakers and the privacy concerns of using those always-listening devices from Amazon or Google, while emulating the software elegance of the Apple smart home ecosystem. Homey creates a complete smart home experience by unifying all home devices in a single app, regardless of brand or technology. Homey is compatible with 50K+ devices from over 1,000 brands and allows users to customize their entire home experience based on their personal habits.
In 2022, the company finally realized they would never make enough money to sustain their intense integration efforts just by selling software apps, and completely reinvented Homey as a free app for everyone, extendable with the Homey Bridge hardware hub for wireless connectivity, and Homey Premium — a subscription-based upgrade for only $ 2.99 per month for an entire household. "We have taken the technology that powers Homey, and completely rebuilt it to work in the cloud," said Emile Nijssen, Athom’s co-founder and Creative Director.
While the free version of the app is limited to 5 devices, after upgrading to Homey Premium users can control and monitor an unlimited number of connected devices. The Homey app works with many cloud-connected devices, such as Philips Hue, Sonos, Spotify and others without the need to buy any hardware. For non-cloud devices, users can purchase Homey Bridge for $69 USD/Euro and connect their devices from many other brands and technologies using Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, 433 MHz and Infrared. Including smart speakers.
While a subscription is not required to use Homey Bridge, Homey Bridge includes three months of Homey Premium for free. Homey Bridge automatically switches its Z-Wave frequency with a unique multi-antenna design, based on Homey Bridge’s geographical location. Additionally, transmitting 433 MHz is automatically enabled in eligible regions such as Europe and Asia.
Now, Athom wants to expand its focus to the integrators and more savvy users who want the full scope of what a smart home solution enables. Enter the new Homey Pro, a highly advanced, privacy-aware, locally operating universal smart home hub built to create better smart homes.
Now available for preorder, Homey Pro (Early 2023) features even more smart home technologies and better wireless range compared to its predecessor and will be available in more markets, including the US and Canada. The new solution will be presented for the first time during CES 2023 at the Netherlands Next Level Pavilion located in the Venetian Expo (Hall A-C, Booth 55332).
Homey Pro unites the Homey experience with local processing, making it possible for devices from countless manufacturers and platforms to work together. Aside from connectivity, Homey Pro comes with Homey Flow and Advanced Flow functionality for automation, Homey Insights for historical data and Homey Energy to show real-time energy usage and generation. Unlike the solutions from Amazon or Google, Homey is also built privacy-first. "It doesn’t listen in or sell any customer data, and it does not use personal information to create user profiles or targeted advertisements," the company states.
"The new Homey Pro was designed based on feedback from our most demanding customers and we were uncompromising in its design," said Emile Nijssen, Creative Director and co-founder of Athom. "Homey Pro makes it easier for users to unify and organize their home connections while maintaining speed and privacy. It’s a feature-packed product that will delight those who use it even months after they’ve unboxed it."
Homey Pro (Early 2023) works with minimal dependence on the cloud, with even more local control options than its predecessor. New devices and services are added on a daily basis to the Homey App Store, which allows developers and manufacturers to extend support to more devices and services. The Homey App Store features more than 750 apps, including staff picks and popular apps that can be browsed by category for inspiration.
The Homey Pro (Early 2023) smart home hub features a quad-core ARMv8 processor, 2GB of DDR4 RAM and 8GB onboard storage. It also has up to 3.5 times better performance than the previous generation Homey hub, and up to four times better wireless range, depending on the connection and technology. Homey cloud services, such as the Homey App Store and remote access, are included free of charge with the new Homey Pro, as well as a free local back-up option via PC or Mac. Cloud backups are available with an optional 99 cents per month subscription.
More important, this hardwired (optional USB-C to Ethernet), Wi-Fi and BLE solution integrates all the accumulated know-how of the company, integrating with all the KNX, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and other industry efforts, while now supporting Matter and Thread connectivity in a single hub. This allows users to combine devices on existing Zigbee and Z-Wave technology with new ones on Matter.
In addition to generic Matter interoperability support, Homey Apps can extend Matter devices’ functionality with manufacturer-specific features, energy usage and a manufacturer-defined appearance to honor the brand’s uniqueness. Homey Pro also has the ability to bridge non-Matter devices to existing Matter networks.
Designed to be plugged into a power outlet, Homey Pro looks beautiful without messy cables, even when connected to Ethernet. Homey Pro can be extended with one or more Homey Bridges to increase wireless coverage in large homes. Zigbee and Z-Wave act as powered repeaters in the mesh network. Devices that use Infrared or 433 MHz will use the nearest Homey Pro or Homey Bridge.
Available now for pre-order on the Homey website and shipping worldwide in 2023 for $399 (US) / €399 (EU). Inside the box the Homey Pro comes with a USB-C power adapter, USB-C to USB-C power cable and a Quick Start Guide.
"The new Homey Pro works with the same Homey iOS and Android app and the Homey Web App that users already know and love. It truly is the best way to take any smart home to the next level, with our unique focus on the combination of versatility and ease-of-use," says Stefan Witkamp, commercial director at Athom.
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