Less than a week into 2015, it’s pretty safe to crow the ‘Internet of Things’ as the buzzword of the year — at least it sure seems that way based on the Consumer Electronics Show taking place in Las Vegas this week. At CES 2015, everyone from hot tech companies to appliance makers to apparel makers were unveiling new, sexy connected devices.
For those who need the refresher, the Internet of Things refers to the idea that more and more devices — from your smartphone to your television to your car — will be connected to the web in coming years. In fact, experts predict there could be as many as 212 billion by the year 2020.
Of course, tech companies getting in on this trend is hardly news. Just last month, Intel (INTC) announced a new suite of products called the Intel Internet of Things (IoT) Platform. But beyond that, let’s take a look at a few big-name companies that followed in Intel’s footsteps at CES 2015.
Companies Unveiling IoT at CES
BlackBerry (BBRY): Struggling phone-maker BlackBerry is the first name that’s hoping the Internet of Things can give its business a much-needed boost. The company is hoping that its “reputation for security and reliability” will be enough reason for companies in the automotive and asset-tracking industries to install BlackBerry technology on their devices, according to CBCNews. BlackBerry also plans to expand its IoT push to smart energy and healthcare.
Samsung (SSNLF): Next up, we have another phone-maker … although Samsung makes much much more than just phones. Its Internet of Thing bet is focused on the idea of a connected home — where home entertainment devices and appliances are connected to the web, in addition to mobile devices. In a presentation at CES, Boo-Keun Yoon, president and CEO, said that 90% of all Samsung products will be IoT devices and every piece of hardware will be IoT-ready in five years.
Under Armour (UA): Next up, we have apparel-maker Under Armour, which stepped up its Internet of Things competition with rival Nike (NKE). UA partnered with HTC and unveiled new health-tracking software that work with a bunch of wearable devices.
Ford (F): Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. Ford also took center stage at CES 2015, debuting a new version of its Sync in-car software. “We see a world where vehicles talk to one another, drivers and vehicles communicate with the city infrastructure to relieve congestion, and people routinely share vehicles or multiple forms of transportation for their daily commute,” Ford chief executive Mark Fields said.
Google (GOOG): Last but not least, we can’t overlook Nest Labs, purchased by tech giant Google last year. Lots of people have heard of Nest and its thermostat, but CES 2015 saw the debut of more connections to that gadget. As The Boston Globe reported, “Whirlpool (WHR) has a new washer-and-dryer combo that speaks to the Nest thermostat. With its motion-sensing technology, the Nest knows when nobody is home. It tells the dryer, which then switches to a lower-temperature setting. The clothes dry more slowly to save energy because no one is in a hurry to put them on.”
Pretty cool, huh? The coolest part? These five companies and their innovations at the Consumer Electronics Show are just the beginning.
As of this writing, Robert Martin did not hold a position in any of the aforementioned securities.
