Evolving for the Better: SmartThings Ecosystem Gives Galaxy Users Better Control Over Their Connected Devices

SmartThings Find network reaches 70 million helper devices globally, introducing features for added convenience and privacy

LONDON, UK – April 21, 2021 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd today announced that the company’s recently launched SmartThings Find ecosystem is continuing to grow rapidly, now comprising more than 70 million helper devices across the globe. The service also continues to evolve with enhanced privacy features and voice command updates, which will be available from April 26^th. The updates, which include the ability to detect unknown Galaxy SmartTags in your vicinity and the use of Bixby to conveniently find your belongings, enable you to have more control of your connected items from the SmartThings app.

SmartThings Find Becomes One of the Fastest-Growing Location Services

SmartThings Find[1], one of the standout features of the SmartThings ecosystem, enables Galaxy users to locate registered Galaxy smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and earbuds quickly and easily using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)[2] and ultra-wideband (UWB) technologies. It can also help find personal items such as keys, bags and bicycles that have one of Samsung’s small, Bluetooth-powered Galaxy SmartTag devices attached.

SmartThings Find users can help others find lost or misplaced items by opting in via the SmartThings app. Once opted in, any nearby Galaxy device will alert the SmartThings server about a missing device or tag’s location, with the user receiving a notification of its whereabouts.[3]  Since its launch in October 2020, more than 70 million devices have been registered globally and with a quick consent, Galaxy users can participate in the SmartThings Find network, making it one of the fastest-growing location services in the world.

SmartThings Find is Enhanced with New Safety and Convenience Features

In addition to its device expansion, people are increasingly using SmartThings Find to keep tabs on their most important possessions. In fact, over half of Galaxy SmartTag users attach it to their house keys or car keys, closely followed by backpacks, wallets and bicycles. Now, beginning next week, Galaxy users will benefit from two new SmartThings Find features that will not only make finding these items more convenient, but will also give them peace of mind when it comes to their safety[4].

First, users will now be able to use Bixby[5] for convenient hands-free, voice-activated Galaxy SmartTag searches. Users can easily and quickly find their belongings which are assigned to an item via Bixby; for instance, if the user asks “Hi Bixby, where’s my bike?” Bixby will immediately find and share its exact location by ringing it.

In addition, the new Unknown Tag Search feature can detect when a Galaxy SmartTag that doesn’t belong to you is moving along with you. With the press of a start button, Unknown Tag Search will scan for unknown SmartTags and provide a list.

As a reminder, all SmartThings Find user data is encrypted and securely protected through a randomized private ID, which changes every 15 minutes, ensuring that the device’s location is not revealed to anyone except its owner.

The SmartThings Ecosystem is Continuing to Evolve

SmartThings Find is just one feature of the ever-expanding, trusted SmartThings ecosystem, which has deepened its capabilities and evolved into an IoT service across Galaxy smartphones and tablets, Samsung TVs and home appliances.

In the UK, SmartThings has expanded beyond popular uses like Smart Home controls or Smart Car features, to analyze users’ electricity usage patterns and recommends more energy-efficient control options for connected devices.

“Samsung is setting precedence with our SmartThings ecosystem, making it one of the fastest-growing location services in the world, and we are only just scratching the surface of what’s possible,” said Teg Dosanjh, Director of Connected Services and Technology at Samsung Electronics. “Continuing to create meaningful services and putting customer experience at the heart of our innovation is what we do best,” he added.

For more information about the SmartThings app and SmartThings Find service, please visit: www.samsung.com/smartthings.

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About Samsung SmartThings

Samsung is committed to delivering valuable experiences for its customers, which is why SmartThings is built into all flagship products. SmartThings is the easiest way to connect and control a wide range of devices from Samsung and other leading smart brands, all from one app – making life simpler, safer and more entertaining.

With expertise and experience across consumer technology and IoT, SmartThings hardware and software validates Samsung’s leadership in offering people a single, seamless and intelligent experience, allowing them to live a smarter, more connected life.

With millions of users on the platform to date, and thousands joining every week, SmartThings is one of the largest open ecosystems of connected devices, available on both Android and iOS, and compatible with the leading voice assistants. By openly publishing APIs and schemas, developers are enabled to utilise and evolve the platform’s offering, supporting SmartThings’ mission to help users save time, effort and money.

About Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

Samsung inspires the world and shapes the future with transformative ideas and technologies. The company is redefining the worlds of TVs, smartphones, wearable devices, tablets, digital appliances, network systems, and memory, system LSI, foundry and LED solutions. For the latest news, please visit the Samsung Newsroom UK at http://news.samsung.com/uk.

[1] Requires initial setup on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone running Android 8.0 or higher & RAM of 2.0GB or above and opt-in for location tracking through the SmartThings Find service of the SmartThings app.

[2] Galaxy SmartTags have a Bluetooth range of up to 120m without obstacles. Actual performance may vary depending on the environment where they are used

[3] All data in SmartThings Find is encrypted and protected, so the device’s location isn’t revealed to anyone but you

[4] Requires the latest version of the SmartThings app, which will be available via the Samsung Galaxy Store and Google Play Store.

[5] Supported on Galaxy smartphones running Android 8.1 or higher.