Control4 (NASDAQ: CTRL), a leader in residential and commercial automation systems, announces the immediate availability of Composer Express, a powerful mobile configuration tool that enables Control4 Dealers to dramatically simplify and accelerate the set-up process for home automation systems. Now, a Control4 Dealer’s technician should be able to configure most one-room home theaters in very short order, or set up hundreds of devices in the most complex whole-home installations in a few hours by using their WiFi-enabled tablet or smartphone and simply walking around the building, installing devices and having Composer Express auto-integrate them into the Control4® system.
“Control4 solutions are designed to scale and deliver exceptional home automation experiences for installations of any size,” said Martin Plaehn, Control4 Chairman and CEO. “Today, we begin providing our dealers a dedicated companion app to our professional programming software, Composer Pro, which will help scale our Dealer’s businesses. As smart home adoption increases and demand for professional installers rises, Composer Express puts Control4 Dealers in a unique position to meet the expanding market demand.”
Significant Time Savings for Large Smart Home
Installations
Large smart home automation projects can
have hundreds of devices that need to be configured – a process that in
the past could take days to complete. Now, with Composer Express a
technician can walk through the project with a smartphone or tablet and
integrate all the devices within a few hours.
Composer Express uses Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP), Control4’s powerful Internet-Of-Things discovery protocol, to automatically discover all SDDP-enabled devices on the network and lets the technician integrate devices into the system with a single touch. Composer Express also provides easy access to an online library of thousands of devices (including ZigBee devices) such as light switches, dimmers, keypads, and sensors, so that a broad range of devices can be seamlessly connected.
"This is the app I wish I'd had two years ago when I first set up my own Control4 system," said Dennis Burger, a Composer Express beta tester. "This isn't simply a miniaturized Composer Pro; it's a fully functional companion app that combines the essence of Composer's preliminary setup tools in a super-streamlined form, with added functionality tailored specifically for handheld devices.”
Home Theater Setup Estimated to be 70% Faster
Having
the setup and configuration power of Composer Express in the palm of the
installer’s hand significantly speeds up and simplifies the installation
process of automated home theater systems as well. Beta testers using
Composer Express estimated a 70% time savings in setting up single-room
home theater systems.
Composer Express enables a Control4 Dealer’s authorized technicians to quickly add new customer accounts, register controllers, update the system OS, easily install Control4 and third-party devices, map the control and audio-video connections among devices, and verify the system to ensure that everything is networked correctly. And all this can be done onsite, right from their iOS or Android tablet or smartphone.
“Composer Express is so simple and intuitive. My entry-level technicians will be able to pick up the app and work their way through setting up a system in minutes,” said Andy Felton of Neuwave Systems, a Control4 Dealer. “And the process is so much faster, it’s going to be great for large systems.”
A New Labor Model for Control4 Dealers
In
addition to providing installation simplification and time savings,
Composer Express was also designed to help Control4 Dealers expand their
business by decreasing the training time and logistics for entry-level
technicians.
“With the Composer Express app for iOS and Android, Control4 Dealers can now locally train and deploy a new tier of Control4 technical staff,” said Paul Williams, Control4 Vice President, Support and Training. “Creating a new tier of technicians who can be self taught through online training allows Control4 Dealers to utilize their more skilled and experienced Control4 Tech 1 & Tech 2 Certified technicians for larger projects, so they can complete more smart home installations per month, and contribute more efficiently to top and bottom line business growth.”
The Control4 Composer Express app for iOS and Android smartphones and tablets is available worldwide for immediate download to all authorized Control4 Dealers and their employees on the App Store and Amazon Marketplace. Technicians can go through online training for Composer Express certification. For more information, visit www.control4.com.
About Control4
Control4
[NASDAQ: CTRL] is a leading provider of automation systems for homes and
businesses, offering personalized control of lighting, music, video,
temperature, security, communications and similar functionalities into a
unified home automation solution that enhances the daily lives of its
customers. Control4 unlocks the potential of connected devices, making
entertainment systems easier to use, homes more comfortable and energy
efficient, and families more secure. More than 75% of Control4’s
consumers have integrated two or more functionalities with Control4’s
solution, which is available through more than 3,000 custom integrators,
retail outlets, and distributors in over 80 countries. By delivering
insightfully simple control solutions that enhance the lives of
individuals and families, Control4 is the automation platform of choice
for consumers, major consumer electronics companies, hotels, and
businesses around the world.
Forward Looking Statement
This
press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding
Control4’s possible future products and financial outlook. All
statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this
press release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are made as of the date they were first issued, and were
based on the then-current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and
projections, as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management.
Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and
uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are
beyond Control4’s control. Control4’s actual results could differ
materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements
due to a number of factors, including but not limited to, risks detailed
in Control4’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
as well as other documents that may be filed by the company from time to
time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Past performance is
not necessarily indicative of future results. The forward-looking
statements included in this press release represent Control4’s views as
of the date of this press release. The company anticipates that
subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change.
Control4 has no intention and undertakes no obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new
information, future events, or otherwise. These forward-looking
statements should not be relied upon as representing Control4’s views as
of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.
Copyright© 2014 Control4 Corporation. All rights reserved. Control4 and the Control4 logo are registered trademarks of Control4 Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other names or brands may be claimed as the property of others.
Contacts:
Kimberly Lancaster, 401-792-7080
klancaster@castercomm.com
or
Kelly
Ahern, 401-792-7080
kahern@castercomm.com