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HTC is banding with mobile carriers across the globe to revolutionize the connected home and office with the power of 5G. At MWC 2019 on Tuesday, HTC unveiled its dedicated 5G mobile smart hub, dubbed HTC 5G Hub, that’s designed to connect up to 20 devices simultaneously.
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The HTC 5G Hub functions beyond just a simple hot spot: It takes the shape of a smart display, similar to Amazon’s Echo Show, and boasts many of the capabilities associated with a typical flagship smartphone. Currently, the device is compatible with networks from the likes of Sprint, Telstra, Three UK, EE, Deutsche Telekom, Sunrise, and Elisa, and will become available for purchase in Q2 2019.
Here’s why it’s an opportune time for the launch of HTC’s 5G mobile smart hub:
- It provides a simple solution for device management, which is becoming increasingly necessary as users add more smart home devices. By 2023, Business Insider Intelligence expects the number of smart home devices in the US to top 1 billion, more than three times the 2018 figure of 312 million. At least some of that growth will come from existing consumers adding to their device collections: The number of devices per US account in Q3 2018 was up 5% from the prior year, for instance. Affording consumers a straightforward way to control their device ecosystems will be critical as those ecosystems grow larger, and HTC’s hub could do exactly that. It allows for voice control via Google Assistant and remote-control features, offering quick and easy device management.
- The device offers a way to experience 5G without needing to upgrade every device in the connected ecosystem. Customer’s existing connected devices are likely not 5G-enabled and thus are unable to access 5G networks. Although HTC’s smart hub is 5G-enabled itself, it can connect to devices via Wi-Fi. That offers a solution for customers who wish to leverage 5G’s ability to support an array of connections but are hesitant to upgrade all of their devices to be 5G-compatible.
- The seamless portability and setup process enables on-the-go control. The ability of HTC’s 5G Hub to charge external devices and provide a day’s worth of battery life, replace a Wi-Fi router, and remove unnecessary cables with a simple plug-and-play setup means customers can bring their connected ecosystem with them when on the go. For example, the device could be used to swiftly set up a mobile office in a remote location or a home environment in a hotel room.
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See Also:
- Qualcomm’s Mobile World Congress announcements position it as a key driver of widespread global 5G adoption
- EXCLUSIVE CONSUMER SURVEY DATA: Samsung’s foldable phone is poised to steal Apple customers
- Here are the US cities we know will have 5G networks lit up for Samsung’s new Galaxy S10 5G phone
SEE ALSO: 5G AND THE IoT: How the next generation of wireless technology will transform the IoT
Source: Business Insider – rhollander@businessinsider.com (Rayna Hollander)