UEI Smart Thermostat Platform Expands Capabilities with Matter and Zigbee Connectivity for Enhanced Interoperability, Automation and Support Services

Rhea-AI Summary

Universal Electronics Inc. (UEIC) announced at the AHR Expo in Atlanta that its Smart Thermostat Platform is now Matter and Zigbee compatible. This platform, featuring the UEI TIDE Dial, TIDE Touch, and TIDE Bridge, offers enhanced connectivity and automation capabilities for HVAC systems. It supports advanced features like remote management, energy-saving automation, and integration with various smart home devices. UEI's commitment to innovation in climate control solutions aims to provide superior user experiences while maximizing energy efficiency, paving the way for substantial growth in the HVAC market.

Positive

• UEI's Smart Thermostat Platform now features Matter and Zigbee compatibility, enhancing interoperability.
• The TIDE Dial and TIDE Touch offer intuitive user interfaces with advanced automation features.
• The platform supports energy-efficient HVAC management, aiding in cost savings for consumers.
• Strong partnership potential with HVAC manufacturers and smart home ecosystems.

Negative

• The press release lacks specific financial metrics or projections related to the impact on revenue.
• No immediate customer adoption numbers were provided, leading to uncertainty about market acceptance.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) (NASDAQ: UEIC), the global leader in wireless universal control solutions for home entertainment and smart home devices, announced at the Air-conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration (AHR) Expo trade show in Atlanta, that the UEI Smart Thermostat Platform is Matter and Zigbee compatible. Building on more than 20 years of experience in creating control solutions for the world’s leading HVAC brands, the company is showcasing the expanded capabilities of its next generation of the connected thermostat platform. The platform is marketed in three variations including UEI TIDE Dial, UEI TIDE Touch and UEI TIDE Bridge.

UEI Smart Thermostat Platform Expands Capabilities with Matter and Zigbee Connectivity for Enhanced Interoperability, Automation and Support Services (Photo: Business Wire)

Cloud Native Design Optimized for Easy Installation, Management, and Support of Advanced Climate Control Systems

The UEI Comfort platform is a white-label smart thermostat designed for HVAC OEMs as well as Home Automation and Hospitality solution providers. It supports Wi-Fi for cloud connectivity, Bluetooth LE for network and device onboarding, and Zigbee for wireless local network connectivity. To control, manage and support the HVAC system, it is designed with UEI’s QuickSet® Widget, connects to QuickSet® Cloud, and is supported by UEI’s Virtual Agent. This provides the platform with state-of-the-art system installation support, network onboarding capabilities, device management capabilities as well as lifecycle support services. It is supported by the white-label my Nevo mobile app to simplify system installation and support and provide remote management capabilities and automations on your mobile device or computer.

The platform is enabled with Zigbee connectivity that provides interoperability with a variety of white-label sensors, smart home devices and ecosystems. During the AHR show, the company announced a white-label Zigbee line-up of motion, window and door, temperature, humidity, and CO2 sensors. With the addition of Matter, which is planned for later this quarter, the thermostat is now able to discover and interoperate with third-party Matter sensors and devices as well as provide the thermostat with Matter bridge capabilities that connect non-Matter sensors to other Matter Controllers such as Alexa, Google Home and Apple HomeKit. This makes the thermostat truly integrated with your smart home user experience.

UEI TIDE Thermostats and UEI TIDE Bridge for Ultimate Comfort and Flexibility to OEMs, Installers and Consumers

The first platform variant, UEI TIDE Dial, is launching in Q1 2023 and offers a full-color screen display with a customizable user interface and jog dial for easy navigation of advanced thermostat functions. The secondary white-label product, UEI TIDE Touch, features a full-size touchscreen color display for even easier user interaction and will launch towards the end of 2023. Both products have an interchangeable, modular system interface to allow you to connect with different HVAC systems in the field. This allows for ultimate convenience during installation as well as greater flexibility in your supply chain.

Next to built-in sensory capabilities, both UEI TIDE thermostats are supported with a local rule engine for easy automation and control. To reduce the energy consumption of the HVAC systems, the thermostat knows when doors or windows are open or when family members or guests have left the room so it will adjust the HVAC system accordingly. It can schedule an automated room and zone control, and it supports full home automation capabilities so it can adjust third-party motorized blinds or shades when the sun shines or turn off the lights when guests have left the room. All are easy to onboard, manage and support via the thermostat display or my Nevo app on your mobile device.

The UEI TIDE bridge enables remote installation of the system interface while you wirelessly control via the thermostat at a location of your choice. You can now put the thermostat with its sensory capabilities near you in your living room or bedroom, while the UEI TIDE Bridge remains in the hall or at your heater or boiler. This allows the system to be easily accessible and provides temperature control just where you need it. In addition, it connects to 110-230VAC networks, making it compatible across the world.

“With our latest innovations in smart thermostats in both functionality and expanding connectivity standards, we now have our biggest growth in the company with customers in HVAC, this is exciting for UEI as we bring our control and connectivity leadership from home entertainment to new energy management and smart home applications with our expanding HVAC customers and partners,” said Arsham Hatambeiki, UEI Senior Vice President of Product and Technology. “It’s an exciting time for us and our HVAC, automation and hospitality customers to deliver intelligent climate control solutions built into OEM systems, removing the need for expensive aftermarket products with limited function and reach, and improving the user experience around home or room climate control that helps save energy at a much larger scale.”

UEI has been at the forefront of developing entertainment and smart home control technologies for over three decades. It continues to drive innovation around universal control, wireless connectivity, sustainability, energy efficiency and ultimate ease of use.

For more information about the Smart Thermostats visit us at booth #C7234 or schedule a meeting with us here.

About Universal Electronics Inc.

Universal Electronics Inc. (NASDAQ: UEIC) is the global leader in wireless universal control solutions for home entertainment and smart home devices and designs, develops, manufactures, ships and supports hardware and software control and sensor technology solutions. UEI partners with many Fortune 500 customers, including Comcast, Vivint Smart Home, Samsung, LG, Sony and Daikin to serve video, telecommunications, security service providers, television, smart home and HVAC system manufacturers. For over 35 years, UEI has been pioneering breakthrough innovations such as voice control and QuickSet cloud, the world's leading platform for automated set-up and control of devices in the home. For more information, visit www.uei.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the Safe-Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words and expressions reflecting something other than historical fact are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including the timely development, delivery and market acceptance of products and technologies identified in this release; the purchasing by UEI customers of the UEI Comfort line and UEI Tide home control products identified in this release in the quantities anticipated by management; the adoption of the cloud-based and advanced control technologies identified in this release by UEI customers, the continued penetration and growth of UEI smart thermostat technology and other products and consumer technologies identified in this release; and other factors described in UEI’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The actual results that UEI achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statement due to such risks and uncertainties. UEI undertakes no obligations to revise or update any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230206005421/en/

Media Contact

Eva Delgado

Universal Electronics Inc.

eva.delgado@uei.com

714-987-8209

Source: Universal Electronics Inc.

FAQ

What is the latest announcement from Universal Electronics (UEIC)?

Universal Electronics announced the compatibility of its Smart Thermostat Platform with Matter and Zigbee at the AHR Expo in Atlanta.

When will the UEI TIDE Dial and TIDE Touch thermostats be launched?

The UEI TIDE Dial is launching in Q1 2023, while the TIDE Touch is expected to launch towards the end of 2023.

What features are included in the UEI Smart Thermostat Platform?

The platform includes advanced automation capabilities, remote management through the my Nevo app, and energy-saving features.

How does UEI's Smart Thermostat Platform improve energy management?

The platform can automate HVAC adjustments based on occupancy and environmental conditions, potentially reducing energy consumption.

What markets is Universal Electronics targeting with its new thermostat technology?

UEI is focusing on HVAC manufacturers, home automation, and hospitality sectors for its new thermostat technology.