Google Home will be compatible with Samsung’s SmartThings platform at launch

We’re right around the corner from Google’s October 4th event where, among other things, the company is expected to launch the Google Home, its Amazon Echo competitor. We know the price and basic functionality of the Home device already, but the biggest question is compatibility.We now know one major platform that will be compatible at launch.

According to Android Police sources, Google Home will be compatible with SmartThings, a Samsung-owned platform for home automation products. While SmartThings isn’t the biggest player in home automation, it is one of the more popular options and gives the Home a bit of firepower right out of the gate.

Compatibility is going to be Google’s biggest challenge with the launch of the Home since its competitor, the Amazon Echo, has a massive library of compatible services through the Alexa platform. As an Echo user myself, there are three different platforms I use with the Echo for home automation (TP-Link’s Kasa, Wink, and LIFX). To make the switch to Google Home, those three are a must for me. Other popular home automation platforms include Phillips Hue and Belkin WeMo. That doesn’t even include the list of services such as Spotify, Uber, Lyft, various news apps, and hundreds of other available apps.

We should hear more about Google Home on October 4th, including a full list of compatible apps and services. With a $129 price tag and integration with Google’s ecosystem & Google Assistant, the Home has a real shot to give the Echo a run for its money, but we’ll just have to wait and see what Google brings to the table.