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German appliance manufacturer Miele has fully committed itself to smart home connectivity with an all-new app.
Announced ahead of Miele's press conference at IFA 2014 in Berlin, the company's Miele@Home smart platform will now let users monitor and control appliances from a dedicated smartphone app.
Already, Miele offers remote diagnostics and monitoring. The new smartphone app goes several steps further, adding elements of true remote control for washing machines, dryers, and dishwashers.
With the free app, users can not only check the status of a wash cycle, but may also remotely alter settings or delay start times using the app's Mobile Control function. The app even allows for push notifications to tell you when an appliance is ready, or if it's malfunctioning.
The Miele@Home app, with Mobile Control, debuted at IFA 2014 in Berlin
According to Miele, over 400 appliances will be compatible with the app when it launches in 2015. It will even be possible to retrofit select older models for remote control. However, the app will require installation of a Miele smart home "gateway," a device that helps appliances interface with the new app.
Though it appears to be more tightly integrated, Miele@Home is similar in concept to setups we've seen from Whirlpool, Samsung, LG, GE, and Dacor.
Miele@Home joins several of the company's existing connected technologies. SmartStart technology automatically sets appliances to run when electricity is least expensive, and Con@ctivity automatically runs a fan when cooking gets smoky. We're especially interested in SuperVision, which turns your oven's display panel into a command center for all of your home appliances.
Miele's Generation 6000 wall oven
While Miele may be best known in the U.S. for its high-end dishwashers and sleek built-in appliances, it's a major player in Germany and a founding member of Qivicon, a German smart-home platform led by Deutsche Telekom.
The Miele@Home app is initially slated for release in the German market. If it makes it to the U.S., we'll be interested to see how American consumers will respond to luxury appliances that also integrate smart-home technology.