Microsoft recently partnered with German appliance maker Miele to launch new smart appliances
Microsoft recently partnered with German appliance maker Miele to launch new smart appliances connected to its Azure Internet of Things services. At a recent industrial fair, Miele stated that it had completed a proof-of-concept study of Microsoft’s IoT technologies, indicating that smart ovens, vacuums and washing machines could hit the market soon.
Big news in the land of technology: Microsoft recently partnered with German appliance maker Miele to launch new smart appliances connected to its Azure Internet of Things (IoT) services.

What Microsoft's rivals are planning

However, Microsoft faces several major competitors in the smart home market.

Apple 's(NASDAQ: AAPL) HomeKit and Google 's(NASDAQ: GOOG) (NASDAQ: GOOGL) Nest turn mobile devices into universal remote controls for home automation . Apple hasn't officially launched HomeKit yet, but it will reportedly use the Apple TV set-top box as a hub for synchronizing data from smart lightbulbs, locks, and garage door openers to mobile devices. Google's central hub is Nest, its smart thermostat. The Nest app is compatible with Android, Fire OS, and iOS devices.

Samsung's plans are slightly different. It uses the SmartThings hub, which it acquired last year, as a central hub for its home automation devices. Yet Samsung also manufactures its own smart appliances, like refrigerators, washing machines, and robot vacuums. Samsung's SmartThings app is cross-compatible with iOS, Android, and Windows Phone devices.

Microsoft has responded with an interesting mix of strategies. Primarily, Microsoft uses Insteon's Hub to synchronize home automation devices to Windows. Insteon also grants Windows users unofficial "back-door" access to Nest. With Miele, it gains a presence in appliances to compete against Samsung. Like Samsung, Microsoft offers its apps and Azure services across multiple platforms, which maximizes its growth potential beyond Windows devices.

The road ahead

Microsoft hasn't received as much attention as Apple, Google, or Samsung in the smart home market. However, all of the building blocks are there: Windows 10 will unite various computing platforms, Azure will tether together multiple devices, while new investments and partnerships will connect home automation devices to Windows. Its partnership with Miele, which will further expand its presence in smart homes, is just another piece of that puzzle.

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The article Microsoft Corporation's Latest Internet of Things Partnership Could Take It Into Smart Homes originally appeared on Fool.com.

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