By Kim Tae-gyu
A robot vacuum cleaner equipped with a closed-circuit TV camera sells well in Korea as an increasing number of people want to check their home at any time and at any place.
S1, a security service company, started selling the model last month, dubbed Huen Tango View, which is manufactured by the Seoul-based entity’s sister company Samsung Electronics.
``The security-enabled robot cleaners are not available yet at the sales outlets of the electronic goods. However, we sold upside of 1,000 for last month alone,’’ S1 spokesman Bae Hong-keon said.
``In consideration of its high price tag of 790,000 won, the figure seems to be robust. More and more people are expected to buy the products down the road when they hit the shelves of stores.’’
Huen Tango View can be remotely controlled through the computer in a smartphone. Once its owner is linked to the Internet, he or she can send various commands to the cleaner.
For example, it can be ordered to automatically clean, return to a charging station and turn on or off a light to keep an eye on the home through video images sent from the camera.
S1, which is better known for its security brand Secom, is the first in the country to release a mobile closed-circuit TV on top of a robotic vacuum cleaner, which was developed in cooperation between S1 and Samsung Electronics.
Samsung Electronics, the world’s largest producer of memory chips and flat-panel displays and No. 2 maker of cellular phones, is mulling over launching Huen Tango View through its distribution channels.
The Suwon, Gyeonggi Province-based company will then have to jack up its annual capacity of the models _ currently, the outfit is churning out just 1,000 monthly at its Gwangju plants.
Market observers point out that Huen Tango View amply demonstrates the power of digital convergence, which is taking place across the board not only in the electronics industry but also in the security business.
``The sophisticated robot cleaner shows what is in store in the future of the industry. Home appliance producers also have to brace for the strong trend of convergence to remain ahead of the curve,’’ a Seoul analyst said.
``Currently, some white goods such as upscale refrigerators have Internet connectivity based on the mobile Web. In the future, the security camera will also be a default for premium home appliances.’’