The new app has the telecom Called “MagentaHome App”. She should – like that telecom – bring together different areas of daily life – but above all make it easier to control the home. This should work independently of Telekom’s previous smart home offering. This still exists and is based on a smart home center at home. The MagentaZuhause app, on the other hand, operates in the cloud and sends the necessary control signals home from the data center.
Similar to HomeConnectPlus can you use the app to manage your Logitech, Netatmo, sonos, Phillips Connect Hue and your existing smart home telecom account to the app. You can only use other manufacturers such as Osram, Nuki, Tint, WiZ, Homematic if you have a Smart Home-enabled base station (many Speedport routers from Telekom also have these). IP and add more. After all, all of these devices need a base station in the home that provides them with a radio signal.
The previous Magenta Smart Home will continue to run for existing customers for the time being
Existing smart home customers can transfer their data, but can also continue to use the previous system. Important: After importing Magenta Smart Home, the two systems no longer synchronize with each other. This can sometimes lead to problems if both apps are used with different settings. And: Only devices with the radio protocols DECT, ZigBee, Homematic IP, Schellenberg will be imported, HomeMatic will follow shortly. Rules and scenes are not transferred to the MagentaZuhause app and must be created from scratch. The allocation of Hue lamps to the different rooms must also be reassigned.
A switch is therefore likely to be unattractive for previous smart home users, at least for the moment. Another disadvantage of the new version is that the routines always require an internet connection. If the Telekom cloud service doesn’t work or if the internet is down, the smart home no longer works. With the previous Magenta Smarthome, all the rules worked even without an internet connection and in the event of disruptions in the data center. If you control your entire home smartly, a five-minute downtime is a real problem. How the future of the previous Magenta Smart Home will look is open in the long term. On the website it says: “Anyone who already uses SmartHome can continue to use the existing Magenta SmartHome app.” How long is unclear. The system was also apparently withdrawn from the market, making further developments unlikely.
The Telekom app is aimed at these users
However, the MagentaZuhause app is apparently primarily aimed at users who have already used individual smart home components without connecting them. The app helps to set up and control smart devices. It recognizes many devices automatically and suggests appropriate “routines”. Based on the existing devices, the app provides tips on what would be possible with additional hardware in the smart home. Prepared routines – such as “Info in case of burglary” or “Simulate presence” – should help to protect the home better. The “daily heating plan” routine, on the other hand, helps to save energy. Of course, this only works with smart heating thermostats. But you can also create your own routines.
That’s what Telekom’s new smart home costs
For the first time, the new system also offers the option of registering multiple users. All household members can access the app individually and create task or shopping lists, for example. The various users can also record household tasks on personal or shared lists. If desired, the app also shows who is currently at home. In this way, parents know whether the children are safely back from school (provided they have a mobile phone with them). To this end, Telekom has introduced geofencing in the Magenta home app.
The MagentaZuhause app is free to download for smartphones and smartphones tablets available in the Google Play Store and App Store. In addition, Telekom also offers the app in a Pro version. Here are in addition to controlling smart home devices over WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS also contain other radio standards. As an introductory offer, the Pro version is available for a limited time for 0 EUR. It then costs EUR 2.95 per month. With the new WLAN Comfort packages for home networking, use of the Pro version is also free.