China Mobile has launched its Ringa end-to-end smart-home development platform to accelerate the home automation market in Europe.

With sustained growth anticipated in the smart home market, global telecoms operators, service providers, device makers and retail brands can use Ringa to build integrated home automation products and services rapidly.

Ringa is a smart home development platform that makes it possible to connect various smart home IoT devices to a single application. It includes a cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform, a suite of mobile access applications and multiple IoT communications modules, along with smart devices and voice-enabled products.

Interest in smart products has boomed since early 2020, when the pandemic shifted people’s focus to their home environment. Sales of smart domestic appliances and health devices increased 41% across key European markets, according to research by the German Society for Consumer Research. IDC predicts that Europe’s smart home market will reach almost 210 million units in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of 15% from 2020 to 2025.

“As intelligent digitalisation continues to transform industries worldwide, China Mobile has recognised the demand for integrated smart home solutions that are quick to market, scalable and globally deployable; Ringa is the result,” said Lin Erwei, executive vice president of China Mobile. “We expect to see the installed base of smart home solutions increase rapidly across Europe as consumers increasingly embrace a digital lifestyle and a future where we can connect everywhere.”

Ringa can help meet this growing demand with end-to-end smart home products that empower operators and service providers and connect smart home brands, OEM manufacturers and retailers to elevate the smart home experience for consumers.

Ringa runs on an open IoT platform developed by China Mobile, a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) cloud that allows the smart home ecosystem to come together to provide consumers with one-stop access to intelligent IoT hardware and standard end-to-end applications with unified connectivity.

Access capabilities, such as object models, firmware and unified access standards, are available on the SaaS platform. It also has cloud capabilities, including equipment and device development, simulation debugging, scene linkage, message queues and remote over-the-air technology upgrades.

For quick and easy application development, Ringa further supports app control and open API, plus third-party voice platform docking with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and other popular voice assistants.

A key feature is the intelligent service platform for online product development and operations management. Developers can create devices and manage products, operations, big data and more via a single web portal. Leveraging this platform helps developers fast track product development and solve potential maintenance problems and operational difficulties.

Ringa supports key wireless connectivity technologies, including LTE Cat 1 and NB-IoT, the KNX-RF system, wifi, and Bluetooth.

Under the Ringa brand, China Mobile also offers a range of smart devices that combine artificial intelligence and IoT technologies. The portfolio includes smart lighting, air purifiers, heating and cooling fans, smoke detectors, security systems, door and window sensors, and health devices, as well as smart sockets and switches that can be used to control other lights and appliances.