Jordan O'BrienThe Crestron Alexa skill can now be enjoyed in both the UK and Germany, after the home automation manufacturer officially launched its skill outside of the US for the first time.
While it’s been months since the Crestron skill was first launched in the US, it’s not the first time there’s been a skill available stateside that wasn’t available this side of the pond. In fact, earlier this year CE Pro Europe highlighted the huge disparity between what skills are available in the US compared to the UK and Germany.
With the Crestron skills now available in the UK and Germany, custom installers can take full advantage of voice control with a professional home automation system. Using Alexa users can control everything from lighting to AV equipment and smart thermostats. A vast array of voice commands are available to control Crestron systems, including natural phrases such as ‘I’m too cold’ or ‘the lighting is too bright’.
“Crestron customers expect a truly integrated home technology experience,” says John Clancy, VP of Residential Systems at Crestron. “We’ve been collaborating very closely with Amazon Alexa engineers to make sure we offer an uncompromising voice control experience that is every bit as seamless and satisfying as tapping a button on a beautiful Crestron touch screen, remote control, or designer keypad. You can ask Alexa to set the mood for dinner, or to play a movie in the bedroom, or let her know it’s too cold in the bathroom. Just say the word and your Crestron system responds immediately.”
The Alexa Skills Store is constantly growing, so it’s unlikely that Crestron will be the last home automation system to be made available through the voice assistant. Many of the company’s largest competitors, including Control4 and Rako have already released their skills in the UK market, while consumer brands such as Logitech’s Harmony and Samsung’s SmartThings have been available from day one.
The Crestron Alexa Skill is available now for anyone with an Alexa-enabled device.