Finnish multinational communications corporation Nokia has developed a smart home platform, known as the Nokia Home Control Center, which aims to begin a new era of networked home services and solutions.

Based on an open Linux-based platform, the centre will be the basis for next generation security, smart home solutions and household energy management systems, and allows third parties to integrate their own smart home solutions and services.

Fundamentally, the platform will enable the home-owner to build a technology-neutral smart home that can be controlled with a mobile phone, using a unified user interface and support common smart home technologies, including Z-Wave and proprietary solutions.

Thus, it allows third parties to develop their own solutions and services on top of the platform, expanding the system to support new services and smart home technologies.

All solutions based on the platform can be accessed via smart phone or PC locally or remotely. Consumers can monitor and control their electricity usage, switch devices on and off, and monitor different items, such as the temperature, cameras, and motion. In the future, entire whole-of-house control systems could potentially be connected to the Nokia platform, including security, heating, and ventilation systems.

“We see there is growth potential in the smart home market,” says vice president and head of corporate business development Teppo Paavola.

“The home of today has intelligence everywhere, but to date there has not been a solution that is interoperable with wide range of home systems that can easily be controlled.

“We want to create an open solution where external partners can develop their own solutions and services on top of our platform.

“And we believe that the mobile device is an ideal interface to control home intelligence, especially when the user is not at home.”

Nokia has also announced a partnership with major European energy company RWE. The cooperation aims to develop a comprehensive solution for managing energy consumption and CO² usage in the home.

With this in mind, the first joint solution from Nokia and RWE due in late 2009 will focus on home heating management. The product will consist of a central control unit together with remote-controlled thermostats for the actual radiator. The user interface will be the PC or mobile phone and a separate display will be available within the household.

Beyond 2009 Nokia and RWE are then planning additional services in connection with smart meters. These services will provide consumers with real-time information about their energy consumption and allow them to control their energy bill remotely.