Retail Observer

RETAILOBSERVER.COM FEBRUARY 2014 30 A ccording to data from Nielsen 1 , 40 percent of U.S. mobile phone consumers over age 18 now have smartphones. Over the last few years, the trend seems to have gained momentum. Consumers are becoming increasingly reliant on mobile devices to help multitask and manage daily activities. Constantly being "connected" is the expectation today and, as a result, devices are expected to do more. GE is taking connected technology to the next level with an updated mobile app 2 that enables consumers to connect with and take control of their GE Profile™ wall oven 3 from outside their home's Wi-Fi network. The ability to connect remotely is surely welcome news for consumers with busy, on-the- go lifestyles. REMOTE-CONTROL OVEN We all know family time around the dinner table is important, however, some consumers view meal preparation as simply too time consuming. The GE mobile app makes the dinner process less burdensome. Since consumers can preheat, set the timer, check cooking status and temperature, and more from their phone, they can manage their in-progress dinner from a remote location. Preheating while picking up last-minute ingredients from the grocery store or waiting for the kids at the bus stop is now a reality 4 . The ability to check a mobile device to confirm the oven was turned off is invaluable to those who tend to rush out of the house left with the nagging, "Did I leave the oven on?" feeling. If the oven was left on, they can turn it off remotely, thanks to the GE mobile app. The app even sends push notifications when preheating and timers are complete and when meat probe temperature is achieved, among other functions. Beyond greater control from remote locations, this technology signifies the first time consumers can upgrade their GE appliance with new features and capabilities after it's installed. With this new feature, GE gives consumers flexibility to take advantage of advanced features via their smartphones. The technology is an example of GE developing smart appliances tied to its vision of purposeful innovation. HOW IT WORKS In order to use GE connected technology via a mobile app, owners of new GE Profile wall ovens must first download the free GE Brillion™ app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store and enable remote control. To remote start, they press the Remote Enable pad, and the REMOTE icon will appear on the display. FUTURE UPDATES GE makes it easy for consumers to take advantage of future iterations of the app by sending mobile notifications when updates are available. No need to worry about outdated technology—this capability ensures users always have the latest in GE's connected appliance offerings at their fingertips. AVAILABILITY GE's remote-enabled wall ovens retail for an MSRP of $2,299 - $3,799 5 . Models are available in black, white and stainless finishes, and single- and double-oven configurations in both 30 and 27 inches. 1 July 2011 Nielsen data. 2 Requires the GE Brillion™ iPhone® or Android™ app for smartphones or tablets. Available for free from iTunes® and the Google Play Store. iPhone and iTunes are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. © 2012 Google Inc. All rights reserved. Android is a trademark of Google Inc. 3 Models PT9550, PK7500, PT9050 and PK7000. 4 Takes up to 10 ½ minutes (average 9 minutes, single cavity, convection, hidden bake) to preheat to 350 degrees. 5 Retailers set their own prices. CONSUMERS CAN START (OR STOP) THEIR OVEN REMOTELY, THANKS TO GE MOBILE APP M A N U F A C T U R E R [ N O T E S ] RO

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