2 billion, and has designs on the home security market. Apple is designing a software platform to control smart home devices, and is in talks with a group of retailers to incorporate it into their devices. Another large player in this market is ATandT, whose Digital Life service, consisting of one app and a wireless adapter device, aggregates all services and devices and the consumer pays a monthly fee for this service. Samsung, GE, Comcast, Time Warner, Staples, Best Buy, ADT, Tyco, and other firms are also in the mix. To harness the full potential of the smart home automation, disparate manufacturers will have to develop technologies based on common open standards. Very few, if any, firms produce every device found in a household, and it is unlikely that consumers would be brand loyal enough to buy every household device, or even a majority of them, from a single manufacturer.