Companies Eyes Smart Home Industry
The development of smart home technology is set to become a new frontier for Internet companies like Alibaba Group, smartphone makers such as Apple and appliance manufacturers Samsung Electronics and Midea Group, analysts say. The industry, which would link Internet-capable appliances and smartphone applications, has prompted appliance maker Haier Group to suspend its overseas expansion and instead focus on R&D. Big players are exploring ways to develop their own solutions, but analysts say their success will hinge upon their levels of service.