Telefónica plots trial in either Madrid or London.

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

September 9, 2014

2 Min Read
AT&T & Telefónica Extend Digital Life to Europe

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- AT&T is extending its Digital Life home automation and security system into Europe with partner Telefónica, as well as adding healthcare additions to the platform.

Telefónica SA (NYSE: TEF) started looking into the home automation and security space a couple of years ago, and signed a contract with AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T), which has launched its Digital Life service in multiple US markets, just under nine months ago. (See AT&T Launches Digital Life Service in 15 Markets, AT&T Continues Smart Home Push and AT&T Adds 6 More Digital Life Markets.)

The first Telefónica tests will be in Madrid or London, or a suburb of these cities, Telefónica's global managing director of digital home, Martin Harriman, told Light Reading at an AT&T event Monday evening.

Madrid had been the first choice, but the easier regulatory environment in the UK might win out. "Spanish security regulation is ball-achingly strict," Harriman tells us.

Want to know more about machine-to-machine (M2M) communications? Check out Light Reading's dedicated M2M services content channel.

AT&T, meanwhile, is adding healthcare aspects to its Digital Life platform in 2015.

The intention is to make it simple for families to care for elderly relatives at home, or allow older people to live alone easier.

The updates will include:

  • Motion sensors that can turn on lights when the person being monitored moves around, and can alert caregivers if that person does not get out of bed.

  • Contact sensors that can be used on refrigerators, so that families can tell if an elderly relative has (or hasn't) opened the refrigerator during a certain time period.

  • Water sensors that issue an alert if a tap is left on.

The operator is planning to start testing the new additions in Atlanta and Dallas soon.

— Dan Jones, Mobile Editor, Light Reading

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About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

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