Roku, known for its streaming service and smart TV operating system, has decided to expand its reach into the smart home category and will be selling smart home devices as part of a campaign to let existing customers, and would-be customers, enjoy the conveniences of smart home devices.
"As the #1 selling smart TV OS in the U.S., the Roku platform is used by tens of millions of households, and now we're extending our ecosystem to include devices and services to power the modern smart home," Mustafa Ozgen, president of Devices Roku said in a press release on Wednesday.
"Branching further into the smart home category is a natural extension of our business, and we are proud to partner with Walmart to make the experience simple and affordable," Ozgen continued.
Roku's new suite of smart home products will be made available exclusively in 3,500 Walmart stores starting Monday next week, Oct. 17.
Roku's new Smart Home products include a Floodlight Camera, Indoor and Outdoor Cameras, Indoor Camera 360°, Video Doorbell & Chime, Smart Bulbs (white and color), Smart Light Strips, and Indoor and Outdoor Smart Plugs.
These products are developed in partnership with Wyze Labs. They feature two-factor authentication (2FA) for more security, user data encryption, secure boot, and many other advanced security features. What's more, these smart home products are certified by ioXt Alliance, known as the global standard for security regarding the Internet-of-Things (IoT).
Smarter Home ecosystem
Users of Roku's TV OS who purchase the said devices will immediately get to enjoy what they have to offer.
Those who purchase and install a Roku Video doorbell, for example, will be able to see who is at their door from their Roku TVs while watching their favorite shows. Roku users will also be able to view live streams from their Roku cameras. A Roku voice remote can also be used to bring up video feeds.
Roku added that the Smart Home devices, such as the Smart Light Strips and Smart Bulbs, will be compatible with Roku Voice as well as third-party voice integrations, allowing users to change something simply by saying it.
These conveniences won't require Roku customers to spend a lot. Fox Business noted that Roku's smart home cameras start at $26.99 for the indoor model, for example.
iPhone or Android device users can also enjoy the conveniences through the Roku Smart Home app, and a camera subscription plan that includes many features.
Walmart itself is looking forward to cater to Roku customers as soon as the products become available in-store.
"At Walmart, we are dedicated to providing our customers with technology to simplify and enhance their lives at everyday low prices," Laura Rush, senior vice president of electronics, toys and seasonal at Walmart U.S. said.
