Whirlpool Corp. Reaffirms Commitment to Smart Home Tech
BENTON HARBOR -- Whirlpool Corp. (NYSE: WHR) Monday announced the launch of a line of smart appliances with technology it has branded 6th Sense Live.
The company's flagship Whirlpool brand will make smart home management a reality this month in the Chicagoland area with the release of a suite of smart appliances along with a free mysmartappliances app which is available in the iTunes app store now.
Whirlpool noted that the convergence of technology with everyday household appliances is evolving to optimize energy consumption and allow consumers to manage everyday household tasks from their smart phones.
This month, Whirlpool brand will bring connected appliances to the marketplace, introducing four appliances including a smart refrigerator, smart dishwasher and smart washer and dryer. Each has the ability to be controlled using an app and will communicate with the emerging Smart Grid – the next generation electrical grid.
"Smart grid-enabled appliances have evolved into a broader conversation around the connected home and home management," said Warwick Stirling, Whirlpool's global director of sustainability. "Consumers want to connect to their homes in a meaningful way and benefit from functions that allow them to save energy and monitor their appliances even when away from home. As connectivity becomes more of a priority in our daily lives, seamless home management is what 6th Sense Live technology provides. We're proud to provide our consumers with the peace of mind that they can manage daily, essential tasks from anywhere with ease."
Whirlpool's new appliances make home appliance management simple with Smart Assistant features like Vacation Assistant, Remote Start/Pause and alerts or text messages. Gone are the days when you had to guess the detergent status in your washer or remember what water filter model you need for your refrigerator. Whirlpool brand smart appliances offer notifications and alerts to consumers via their smart phones and tablets and deliver real-time information, such as what cycle the smart dishwasher is on as well as energy rates and consumption.
Whirlpool brand smart appliances are available for purchase nationally through Abt Electronics in Chicago and from other leading retailers later this year. Visit whirlpool.com/smart for more information.
The line includes:
* Whirlpool Smart Side-by-Side Refrigerator with 6th Sense Live technology (WRL767SIAM). Available in Monochromatic Stainless Steel, MSRP $1,999.
* Whirlpool Smart Dishwasher with 6th Sense Live technology (WDL785SAAM). Available in Monochromatic Stainless Steel, MSRP $949.
* Whirlpool Smart Front Load Washer and Electric Dryer with 6th Sense Live technology (WFL98HEB/ WEL98HEB). Availability and pricing to be announced.
Whirlpool is the world's leading manufacturer and marketer of major home appliances, with annual sales of approximately $18 billion in 2012, 68,000 employees and 65 manufacturing and technology research centers around the world. More about the appliances at www.whirlpool.com and the company at www.whirlpoolcorp.com.
