LG Electronics gets a seat on the HCA board of directors

Industry

Published: 25 Aug. 2022, 15:04

LG Electronics gets a seat on the HCA board of directors

LG Electronics said Thursday that it will be represented on the board of directors of Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA), a global organization of home appliance makers.

Founded in 2022, the HCA aims to make smart devices from different brands to be connected with each other. With the addition of LG, there are now 13 members including six founding companies — Samsung Electronics, Kentucky-based GE Appliances, Turkey’s Arçelik, Sweden’s Electrolux, China’s Haier, and Trane Technologies from Ireland.

The members hope to develop and implement guidelines for device interoperability. That means enabling consumers to control home appliance devices from other brands like Samsung Electronics or GE Appliances through the LG ThinQ app, or to use Samsung’s SmartThings app to control LG devices.

The technology is yet to be available at this point. LG said that the company and other HCA members will demonstrate the cross-brand device control service for the first time in IFA 2022.

IFA 2022 is set to take place in September in Berlin, from Sept. 2 to 6.

“We’re happy to have LG join our Board of the alliance,” said Choi Yoon-ho, HCA president and head of the Internet of Things (IoT) business in Samsung Electronics. “As the industry leader, LG understands that interoperability is essential to a truly seamless smart home experience and we are thrilled to have them join the alliance.”

“We are very pleased to join the board of the Home Connectivity Alliance and excited to work with like-minded companies,” said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of LG Electronics’ home appliance business. “The decision to join is consistent with LG’s commitment to open innovation and collaboration, and commitment to provide consumers with more choice and greater convenience in their daily lives and drive the future of the connected home experience.”

LG Electronics also joined the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) in July. CSA develops and promotes open standards for device interconnectivity, with over 500 members worldwide.

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]