The FRITZ!App Smart Home is the official app for controlling smart home devices with the FRITZ!Box. There is a new entry in the changelog in the Google Play Store that announces the feature “Switching templates, scenarios and routines with geofencing”. This changelog can currently be read in the app's beta channel.
It can be assumed that AVM will now take other/further paths with Smart Home and retrofit such functions. At the moment they are still behind from larger systems and don't want to lose touch. This would definitely be a nice feature.
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What is geofencing?
Geofencing is a technology that allows the location of a device to be monitored using GPS data or Wi-Fi networks. As soon as the device is in a certain area, an action can be triggered.
How does geofencing work in the FRITZ!App Smart Home?
The function is currently not (visibly) available in the app. It can therefore be assumed that this is a preparation that will be implemented in a future version of the app. However, it is expected to work similarly to other smart home apps.
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Examples of using geofencing
Geofencing offers a variety of ways to automate your smart home. Here are some examples:
- One can use geofencing to control lighting. When you come home, you could automatically turn on the outside lights or dim the inside lights.
- You can also use it to control the heating. When you leave the house, you could automatically turn down the heating to save energy.
- It would also be conceivable to turn on the alarm system when you leave the house.
Appropriate smart home hardware would have to be available for all of the “actions”. The FRITZ!Box can currently primarily manage DECT-ULE devices. With the Smart Gateway, the FRITZ! system is also Zigbee-capable. The gateway's USB port may be used for other standards in the future – AVM wasn't entirely opposed to this at the IFA 😉.