Icontrol Networks, Inc., the company that specializes in home automation and security systems, announced that its foothold in the Japanese market has expanded with five new service provider customers via its Intelligent HOME platform. The Intelligent HOME platform is a home automation offering powered by Icontrol’s Touchstone solution, and deployed by prominent Japanese service provider iTSCOM and device supplier Connected Design Inc.

By April 2016, Intelligent HOME will be available to the 1.2 million customers of Japan’s Asahikawa Cable Television Co., Ltd., Bay Communications Inc., Fureai Channel Inc., Hiroshima Cable Television Corp., and Okinawa Cable Network Inc., with the potential for twenty five new cable provider partnerships by the end of the year.

“The benefits of living in a smart home are borderless, so we look forward to bringing Icontrol’s platform to residences across Japan – and ultimately, around the world,” said Bob Hagerty, CEO of Icontrol Networks.

According to Statistia, in 2015, Japan was the second-largest smart home market behind the United States, and has a projected annual revenue growth rate of 40.75 percent.

“We see the connected home as the entryway to a fully-automated life,” said Yoichi Hiraoka, General Manager, iTSCOM Intelligent HOME. “We chose Icontrol’s platform because of its flexibility and extensive ecosystem, which will allow us to build up solutions that are customizable for every lifestyle.”

Appealing to a range lifestyles will be an important distinction for Icontrol’s expansion East, as smart home trends differ between the U.S. and Japan.

“In North America, smart home is largely driven by the desire for home security,” explained Greg Roberts, VP of Marketing at Icontrol. “In Japan, less than five percent of households have a security system because most people live in condos, which already feel secure. Instead, what we’re seeing in Japan is that the convenience and peace of mind offered by features like video monitoring and activity alerts provide the foot in the door for smart home services.”

Icontrol Networks ventured in Asia back in 2014 when it partnered with iTSCOM to bring Touchstone to Asia which allows consumers to install home automation solutions by themselves.

The company also recently announced a partnership with Earth Networks that allows Icontrol Networks to tap into weather data to deliver more intelligent energy management services to consumers to reduce costs, while maintaining comfort.

Photo by Moyan_Brenn