Honeywell Achieves An Industry First: Voice-Activated, Cloud-Connected Thermostat For D.I.Y. Homeowners

Engineering Advancements Enable Consumers to Connect to Their Thermostat With Voice Technology

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Sep 19, 2013, 04:20 ET

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON), a global energy efficiency leader with products and technologies in more than 150 million homes, today introduced its latest connected home innovation: the Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat with Voice Control. The new voice technology allows consumers to simply say, "Hello, thermostat," to activate and control their home's temperature.

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Honeywell: Introducing the first thermostat built to listen. (PRNewsFoto/Honeywell) (PRNewsFoto/HONEYWELL)

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A first-of-its-kind consumer device, the Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat with Voice Control utilizes advanced far-field voice-control technology, which breaks through the ambient noise of a busy household and recognizes commands such as "make it four degrees warmer" or "make it much cooler" -- even from across the room. Upon installation, the thermostat immediately recognizes the homeowner's voice and adjusts the temperature setting based on their request. This is the first cloud-based voice controlled solution that will get smarter over time, adding more commands based on its interactions with homeowners.

"For more than 100 years, our mission has been developing products and technologies that make life more comfortable and convenient for homeowners," said Beth Wozniak, president of Honeywell Environmental and Combustion Controls. "Honeywell created the first programmable thermostat, the first touch-screen thermostat, and the first with a color-customizable screen. And now we are first with voice control. We are very proud to introduce a Wi-Fi thermostat that truly interacts with homeowners and offers a level of convenience not found anywhere else."

"Most homeowners know the feeling of coming through the front door while juggling bags of groceries, a stack of mail, and keys to a less-than-comfortable temperature," said Tony Uttley, general manager of Home Comfort and Energy Systems at Honeywell. "With this hands-free advancement, homeowners can simply speak to their thermostat, and it responds by adjusting the environment to their preferences. We believe the next generation of advancements in connected home technology means people don't have to be tied to their devices. Instead, Honeywell devices are truly an extension of their lifestyle."

In addition, the Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat with Voice Control allows design-focused homeowners to customize it to match or accent their home decor. The thermostat also offers Wi-Fi connectivity that allows consumers to regulate their energy usage and home comfort through their smart phone. Homeowners can adjust the thermostat by using the Total Connect Comfort smart phone app – which is the top-rated thermostat app on Google Play™ or iTunes™.

Honeywell's Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat with Voice Control will be available beginning November 2013 at a suggested retail price of $349. To purchase, visit lowes.com, homedepot.com, amazon.com and bestbuy.com.

To learn more, please visit www.wifithermostat.com or for consumers who want installation assistance a contractor can be found at www.yourhome.honeywell.com.

About Honeywell

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

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