Technology promises a safer, more convenient community life | Bangkok Post: tech

TRUE CORP

It's time to live a smart life. At least for the residents of Magnolias housing estate.

True Managing Director, Convergence, True Group and Managing Director, Business Customers, Adhiruth Thothaveesansuk, left, Academy Fantasia Season 4 winner Nat Sakdatorn, centre, and Issaree ‘‘Micky’’ Thongthammaroj from AF 5, right, showcase the Neighborhood Watch: a CCTV system through hi-speed Internet from True that monitors family members when they are inside the premises, at the children’s playground, clubhouse, swimming pool as well as checks people coming in and going out of the residential complex.

True Corp and Magnolia have joined hands to launch an innovative home solution, called iHome, for Magnolias residents last week. The prototype solution has been implemented at Magnolias Bang Na-Trat.

iHome, developed by the True Apps team, offers a modern lifestyle via various communications devices such as mobile phones, computers and TVs connected via 3G, Wi-Fi and hi-speed Internet networks. Currently, the application is available on Apple's iphone only.

Adhiruth Thothaveesansuk, Managing Director, Convergence, True Group and Managing Director, Business Customers, True Corp, said that the iHome comprised five major features - Access Identification, Neighbourhood Watch, Home Security, Membership Identification and Shopping by Touch Sim.

He described that the Access Identification means using Touch SIM to identify users when you step into the entrance of the residential project until your reach you residence. This would optimise the degree of security for customers, while the Neighbourhood Watch is a CCTV system through hi-speed Internet that would monitor family members when they are inside the houses, at the children's playground, clubhouse or swimming pool, as well as monitoring people going in and out of the residential project. Each resident will be provided with a username and password.

Membership Identification is a system for accessing all common areas such as lobby, clubhouse, swimming pool, recreation room and library for residents by tapping a mobile phone with a Touch Sim to identify themselves. Furthermore, the by Touch Sim can be used to buy goods and services at convenience stores and vending machines installed at various locations in the residential project.

All these features will be implemented at all new Magnolias housing estate projects.

The last feature is Home Security, which monitors movements inside the house and any rooms that the resident would like to check on demand. This feature, however, will be implemented separately, in accordance with residential requirements. With Home Security, owners will be able to monitor their houses via iphone or Internet as well as remotely switch lights and air-conditioning on and off.

Adhiruth said that True has spent three to four months holding focus group meeting with Magnolias' residents to identify their requirements, and then spent a few more months to developing the relevant applications.

True Deputy Director Business & Industrial Solution Chumphon Ruangvivajarus said the app was developed on the iPhone as it was it was easy to use the model's touchscreen, and also due to its existing popularity. The iHome app, however, could be ported to other smart phone platforms, such as BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, Android and Symbian.

The iHome solution, he said, could be able to install at any places which have high speed Internet, WiFi, Edge or GPRS signal.

The iHome allows True to utilise and converge many technologies, such as Touch Sim, True Money, high-speed Internet, Wi-Fi, IPTV set-top box and Apple iPhone.

Touch Sim plays a major role in opening doors of the Magnolias estate, owners' garages, clubhouse facilities and condominium doors. Together with True Money, users can also buy goods and services in the clubhouse and from vending machines.

Chumphon noted that True decided to develop the iHome application on Apple iphone because of its ease of use as a device to monitor and control the system remotely.

Besides iPhone, the IPTV set-top box also offers a vision of estate common areas on TV. It can also connect to the Internet for surfing popular social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter or watching videos on YouTube.

Visit Malaisirirat, Managing Director, Magnolias Quality Development Corp, said: "We will implement the iHome solution in the new Magnolias projects to meet the demands of customers' lifestyles. The features include Access Identification, Neighbourhood Watch, Membership Identification and Shopping by Touch SIM. However, residents who want the Home Security feature function will have to buy it separately.

"Magnolias housing estate will have a helpdesk team assigned to help users with any problems when using the application, who will be able to contact directly with the relevant True iHome for remote troubleshooting."

Relate Search: True Corp, Magnolias Bang Na-Trat, iHome