Comcast opens Austin IoT center to fuel its suite of home tech solutions

by Kelly O'Halloran
March 10, 2017

Austin's thriving tech community has grabbed the attention of another tech goliath. This time, it's Comcast, which just announced plans to create a Center of Excellence located here in town for its Xfinity Home line. 

The news of the IoT innovation hub follows Comcast's completed acquisition of iControl Networks, a California-based company that builds smart home devices. It's Austin-based team of 80 will be at the core of the new center. 

“We wanted to have this group as part of our company,” said Daniel Herscovici, senior VP and GM of Comcast’s Xfinity Home. “We’re excited to have the Austin team on board. Austin is not one of the market’s that Comcast serves, so it’ll be fun to have the team experience Comcast in a different way.”

Xfinity Home’s suite of fully connected products includes home security systems, cameras, locks and garage openers, and energy efficient lighting and temperature controls.

The two companies began working together back in 2012 when Comcast first launched its home security and automation solution. Herscovici said iControl's software is the engine that runs that product.

“We have a great development team in Sunnyvale and Philadelphia,” said Herscovici. “And now we’re going to establish an IoT Center of Excellence in Austin. We feel that Austin offers a unique technical portfolio of individuals, and we think we can attract some great talent.”

Herscovici said they hope to fully invest in the Austin team and leverage the existing talents across Comcast, while also taking on iControl’s other international multiple system operators customers.

“The development team in Austin will focus on growing great solutions for Comcast and on creating platforms and solutions set for customers to launch their own security platforms,” said Herscovici.

Currently, Comcast is scoping out office locations for the new center, which will house iControl’s team and site leaders from Comcast — and potentially have room for future hires down the road. 

 
Image provided by Xfinity Home.
 
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