Hive Connected Home

Hive is a trademark owned by Centrica Hive Limited that produces smart home devices.[2] It is one of the largest connected home providers in the UK and,[3] as of May 2018, the company had more than 1,000,000 customers.[4]

Hive
Type of site
Subsidiary
Founded2012
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
IndustryHome automation
ProductsHive Active Heating
Hive Active Light
Hive Sensors
Hive Active Plug
Hive Leak
Hive Camera
Hive app
Employees200+ (2015)[1]
ParentCentrica (2012-present)
URLwww.hivehome.com
Native client(s) oniOS, Android (Google Play and Amazon Appstore), Windows 10 Mobile

Using the Hive app and website, customers can control a range of internet-connected devices, from a thermostat, to lights, smart plugs, motion sensors, and window and door sensors.[5]

History

Before the creation of the Hive brand, British Gas had been trialling a remote control heating service, starting in September 2011, using technology from AlertMe.[6] This led to the launch of the Remote Heating Control service in 2012[7] paving the way for the later Hive-branded smart heating system.

Hive was established when parent company Centrica, owner of British Gas, formed its Connected Homes sector in 2012.[1] The year after it was founded, the company launched Hive Active Heating on October 14, 2013,[8] a smart thermostat that allows customers to control heating and hot water in their homes via the company's website or app.[9] The system can be installed in customers' homes by a British Gas engineer.[10]

In February 2015, British Gas purchased the connected home firm AlertMe in a deal worth £65 million.[11][12] This allowed Hive to build its devices using the Honeycomb platform developed by AlertMe, which facilitates the capability for users to control all their smart home devices through an app.[11][13] This meant Hive could more closely compete with similar platforms used by rivals such as HomeKit, Project Brillo and Nest Labs.[1][14]

Hive Active Heating 2, the second edition of the company's smart heating system, was released in July 2015.[15] The new model was upgraded to include two additional features.[11] The holiday mode setting allows customers to set a given temperature while away from home.[16] The boost function allows customers to immediately turn heating and hot water on for a period of up to six hours.[17]

The smart thermostat was designed by Silicon Valley-based,[1] Swiss designer Yves Béhar,[2] who won Design Miami Design Visionary Award in 2015.[18] It was praised for its sleek look,[14] with critics saying it was an improvement on the company's first active heating model, which was criticised for having a dull aesthetic.[14] However, in the same year, complaints about the lack of data security led to changes in the software. The company improved data encryption as a result of an investigation by Which? magazine.[19]

The company also paired up with Dulux[14] to provide accessory frames for the thermostat in a range of different colours.[16]

In 2015 the company announced future plans to use the Honeycomb platform to support and allow integration with third-party products including a Samsung camera.[20]

The company launched two new products in January, 2016.[21] The Active Plug enables users to attach devices, monitor whether they are on or off,[22] remotely-controlling them using a mobile device or laptop.[21] The Window or Door Sensor allows customers to remotely monitor when windows or doors in their home are opened or closed.[15]

The company released the Motion Sensor on February 9, 2016.[10] Customers can use it to keep track of movement within their homes remotely.[23]

On June 13, 2016, the company launched the Active Light,[24] supplied by the Aurora Group, which users can control remotely to turn the bulb on and off and program lighting schedules.[25]

On August 11, 2016, the company announced a partnership with IFTTT (If This, Then That)[26] to allow the smart thermostat to connect to 300 additional products and services through expanded recipe-based automation.[27]

In September 2016 Hive announced it will partner with Amazon Echo, allowing customers to use Alexa voice control to activate lighting, plugs and heating.[28]

On September 27, 2016, the company launched two new smart LED bulbs that can be controlled to alter the colour and tone of the bulbs.[29]

Effective December 31st, 2019 Centrica Hive Limited discontinued the direct sale of products and related services for Hive in the United States and Canada. [30]

Marketplace

Energy efficiency targets set by UK energy industry regulator Ofgem aim to convert 53 million homes and small businesses to use smart gas and electricity meters by the end of 2020.[31] Since this was announced, there has been an increase in partnerships between smart thermostat companies and utility companies.[32][11]

Operations

The company is the only UK-based, connected homes organisation that provides an end-to-end service, including the creation and installation of devices while also providing customer support on an ongoing basis.[33]

Beginning with 15 staff members,[1] by 2015 this had grown to 200.[1] The company offers services in the UK, the Republic of Ireland and North America.[34]

Devices

The main devices offered include a smart thermostat, lightbulbs, motion sensors for doors and windows, and what the company refers to as a smart plug[10] - all of which operate on an interconnected system that links to a central hub connected to the internet.[16]

Devices can be controlled via the hub, either by using the company website or smartphone app (available on iOS and Android).[16] Users can turn devices on and off both remotely[35] and manually.[14]

Criticism and controversy

In August 2015, a Which? investigation claimed that the Hive app was a "burglars dream"[36] because it was sending data that was unencrypted, including heating schedules and away settings, posing a security risk to customers should their Wi-Fi be tapped into.[37] The company was informed about the Which? investigation in May 2015 and immediately began encrypting previously vulnerable data.[19]

There was criticism of Hive because users could only operate devices designed for the company's system, instead of integrating multiple platforms like companies such as nCube do.[21] However, in August 2016 it was announced the partnership with IFTTT will allow for cross-platform collaboration.[27]

Awards
Year Awarding body Type of award Result
2014 UK Customer Experience Awards Technology and Telecoms Won[38]
2014 UK Customer Experience Awards New Product / Product Improvement Won[38]
2014 Appsters Champion Won[39]
2014 Appsters Best IoT Development Won[39][40]
2014 Appsters Best App Technology Won[39][40]
2014 The Appys Best Desktop / Web App Won[41]
2014 Ignite Award Internet of Things Won[42]
2014 Starpack Best Retail Launch Packaging Won[43]
2017 The T3 Awards Best Connected Eco/Energy Product Won[44]
2018 The Ambient Smart Home Awards Home security tech of the year Shortlisted[45][46]
2018 The Ambient Smart Home Awards Smart home design of the year Shortlisted[45][46]
2018 The Ambient Smart Home Awards Smart energy product of the year Shortlisted[45][46]

References
  1. James Stables (August 19, 2015). "The British are coming: Why Nest should be worried about Hive's plans for the US". Wareable.
  2. "British Gas Hive 'smart home' products refreshed". BBC News. 15 July 2015.
  3. David Gilbert (July 15, 2015). "Hive 2 begins major push by British Gas into smart home with range of connected devices". International Business Times.
  4. Gaurav Sharma (August 25, 2016). "Centrica unit chief says smart thermostat adoption has doubled within a year". International Business Times.
  5. Lindsay Blair (October 23, 2015). "5 ways to prepare your home for winter". Real Homes Magazine.
  6. Miles Bignall (September 30, 2011). "Smart homes: take remote control". The Guardian.
  7. Mark King (July 11, 2012). "British Gas launches remote control central heating service". The Guardian.
  8. Matthew Chapman (September 26, 2013). "British Gas creates Hive brand to house internet-enabled tech products". Campaign Live.
  9. Matt Warman (25 Sep 2013). "British Gas Hive adds app controls to domestic boilers". The Telegraph.
  10. Roland Banks (February 8, 2016). "Hive Releases New Connected Home Products". Mobile Industry Review.
  11. Ingrid Lunden (Feb 13, 2015). "British Gas Buys UK Smart Home Pioneer AlertMe In $100M Deal". TechCrunch.
  12. Lynsey Barber (February 13, 2015). "British Gas buys smart home company AlertMe for £44m as Centrica bets on Internet of Things". City A.M.
  13. Chris Merriman (27 January 2016). "Hive launches first products built on its Honeycomb IoT platform". The Inquirer.
  14. Ben Woods. "Hive unveils sleek new smart thermostat and connected home gadgets you might actually want". The Next Web.
  15. Michael Moore (January 27, 2016). "Hive Releases Window, Door Sensors And Smart Plug". TechWeek europe.
  16. Chris Hall (October 27, 2015). "Hive Active Heating 2.0 review: Style meets connected practicality". Pocket-lint.
  17. Chris Price (November 12, 2015). "Review: Hive 2 heating/hot water control system from British Gas". TechDigest.
  18. Will Speros (December 4, 2015). "Yves Behar Is Honored with Design Miamiís 2015 Design Visionary Award". Architectural Digest.
  19. Rickman, Alice (19 August 2015). "Which? probe uncovers Hive heating app data risk Thermostat app sending information unencrypted". Which?. The Consumer Association.
  20. Chris Hall (July 15, 2015). "Hive will add connected cameras, Honeycomb platform offers third-party support". Pocket-lint.
  21. MIX. "Hive just added 3 new products to its line of smart home devices". The Next Web.
  22. Polly Weeks (February 21, 2016). "Five of the best tech relief". The Press and Journal.
  23. Chris Price (January 27, 2016). "Hive expands connected home range with Active Plug and Window, Door sensors". TechDigest.
  24. Chris Hall (June 13, 2016). "Hive Active Light: Connected bulbs make Hive a major smarthome player". Pocket-lint.
  25. Sean Keach (June 13, 2016). "Smart Home bargain: Hive's smart lightbulb costs just £20". Trusted Reviews.
  26. Chris Smith (August 10, 2016). "IFTTT is coming to native apps to join the dots between your smart home tech". Trusted Reviews.
  27. Matt Brian (August 8, 2016). "Hive's smart thermostat gets IFTTT's recipe-based automation". endgadget.
  28. Chris Hall (September 14, 2016). "Hive confirms compatibility with Amazon Echo for voice controlled heating and lighting". Pocket-lint.
  29. Matt Brian (August 27, 2016). "Hive takes on Hue with colour-changing light bulbs". engadget.
  30. "Hive | A British Gas Innovation | Start Your Connected Home". www.hivehome.com. Retrieved 2020-05-18.
  31. "Transition to smart meters". Ofgem.
  32. Seve O'Hear (July 14, 2015). "British Gas Unveils Updated Hive Thermostat, New Smart Plug, Lighting And Motion Sensor Products". TechCrunch.
  33. Margi Murphy (July 15, 2015). "British Gas Connected Homes reveals smart household gadgets for its Honeycomb IoT platform". TechWorld.
  34. Kezia Joseph (August 3, 2015). "British Gas owners invest £500m in the connected home". Mobile.
  35. Olivia Solon (July 15, 2015). "British Gas wants you to control all of your home appliances via your smartphone". Mirror.
  36. "British Gas Forced to Change Burglars Dream Hive Smart Heating App". Stop Smart Meters. August 19, 2015.
  37. "Which? probe uncovers Hive heating app data risk". Which?. August 19, 2015.
  38. "UK Customer Experience Awards 2014". ContactCentres. October 3, 2014.
  39. "Hive by British Gas wins big at The Appsters Awards 2014". appsworld. November 13, 2014.
  40. "Recap: Apps World". App Developers Alliance. November 17, 2014.
  41. "Appy Awards Shortlist 2014". The Appys.
  42. Dominic Murphy (October 31, 2014). "IGNITE awards winners announced". Numbust Ninety.
  43. "British Gas Hive - How does a new brand find its way into retail?". TheDrum.
  44. "The T3 Awards 2017 together with Three: all of this year's winners". T3.
  45. "The Ambient Smart Home Awards 2018 shortlists revealed". The Ambient.
  46. "The Ambient Smart Home Awards 2018: All the winners revealed". The Ambient.
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