A new application from Markham, ON-based Unify4Life could be a groundbreaking one for the convergence of mobile phones and home theatre: the software promises to allow a BlackBerry owner to use his smartphone to control entertainment devices in the home.
Once the application has been downloaded onto a BlackBerry device, users can begin to send commands wirelessly to IR-enabled home entertainment devices of “all major brands and models”, just as they would with a typical universal remote. The Unify4Life server plugs into a central location in the home, then can be programmed to communicate with various devices, like a flat-panel TV, radio receiver, or stereo. It can also provide access to TV listings via a searchable program guide. In future, the Canadian company says it hopes to permit control for other devices in the home, including lighting, thermostats, and intercoms.
“We’re creating ways to expand the world for BlackBerry users,” explained Paul Tennyson, President of Unify4Life. “Unify4Life’s application gives users ultimate control over a wide range of devices in their home and creates a user experience that will change the way BlackBerry fits into people’s everyday lives.
“Our goal,” Tennyson continued, “is to provide solutions for consumers who embrace technology for convenience, efficiency and entertainment. As people seek to use BlackBerry smartphones more prominently in their lives, Unify4Life will become an essential component for the key systems in their homes.”
The package, which includes an A/V hub, remote control software (v. 1.0), and SoundStreaming, which lets you stream audio from the BlackBerry directly to stereos or receivers, will be available in October for US$99. It will come with a two-year service warranty.