iControl Networks finds entrance into Europe via Swisscom

iControl, one of the emerging broadband home management players, has established a foothold in the European market through a partnership with Swisscom.

Set to be launched in the Swiss market in 2012, the duo will serve up a suite of new home monitoring and control products and services under the "Smart Living" solution brand.

The first product Swisscom's consumers will be able to take advantage of will be an application that lets them control home appliances and other devices via their smartphone or a traditional Web connection.

Although the managed home automation market is arguably very nascent, ABI Research's latest study, "Home Automation and Monitoring," says that "approximately 1.8 million home automation systems were shipped globally in 2011, and that number will increase to more than 12 million shipments by 2016."

ABI added that the ability for home management vendors like iControl to establish relationships with large service providers like Swisscom will be a key factor in helping advance the managed home automation market.

The idea of home control vendors establishing partnerships with service providers is a trend on the rise. A similar situation has taken place in the United States where Verizon (NYSE: VZ), through a host of partners with Motorola Mobility's (NYSE: MMI) 4Home software as the anchor management system, launched its home monitoring service earlier this month.

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