The short answer is: Philips Hue is owned by Signify N.V., a company that was formerly known as Philips Lighting and was spun off from Royal Philips N.V. in 2016. However, the Philips Hue brand name and logo are still licensed from Royal Philips N.V., and the products are still compatible with other Philips smart home devices. In this article, we will explore the history and evolution of Philips Hue, the reasons behind the separation from Philips, and the current status and future prospects of Signify N.V.
Philips Hue is a line of color-changing LED lamps and white bulbs that can be controlled wirelessly via a smartphone app, a voice assistant, or a smart switch. Philips Hue was launched in 2012 as the first smart lighting system of its kind, and it quickly gained popularity among consumers who wanted to create personalized and dynamic lighting scenes in their homes. Philips Hue products can also sync with music, movies, games, and other media to enhance the entertainment experience. Moreover, Philips Hue products can integrate with other smart home devices and platforms, such as Apple HomeKit, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Samsung SmartThings, IFTTT, and more.
How did Philips Hue become Signify?
Philips Hue was originally developed and manufactured by Philips Lighting, the lighting division of Royal Philips N.V., a Dutch multinational conglomerate that produces a wide range of products and services, such as medical equipment, consumer electronics, personal care, and more. Philips Lighting was one of the oldest and largest businesses of Philips, dating back to 1891 when the company started making light bulbs.
However, in 2016, Philips decided to separate Philips Lighting from its core health technology business, as part of its strategy to focus on more profitable and innovative sectors. Philips Lighting was renamed as Signify N.V. in 2018, and it became an independent company that operates in over 70 countries and employs over 32,000 people. Signify N.V. is the world leader in lighting, with a revenue of 6.5 billion euros in 2020.
Despite the separation, Signify N.V. still maintains a close relationship with Royal Philips N.V., as it has a license agreement to use the Philips brand name and logo for its lighting products until 2030. This means that Philips Hue products are still sold under the Philips name, and they still work seamlessly with other Philips smart home devices, such as Philips Hue Sync Box, Philips Hue Play HDMI Sync Box, Philips Hue Bridge, and Philips Hue Motion Sensor.
What are the benefits and challenges of Signify?
One of the main benefits of Signify N.V. is that it can focus solely on its lighting business, without being constrained by the broader interests and priorities of Philips. This allows Signify N.V. to invest more in research and development, innovation, and customer satisfaction. Signify N.V. has also expanded its product portfolio beyond Philips Hue, to include other lighting solutions, such as Interact, LiFi, and 3D-printed luminaires.
However, Signify N.V. also faces some challenges in the competitive and fast-changing lighting market. For instance, Signify N.V. has to deal with the increasing pressure from low-cost competitors, especially from China, that offer similar or cheaper smart lighting products. Signify N.V. also has to cope with the changing consumer preferences and expectations, as well as the environmental and social issues that affect the lighting industry. Signify N.V. has to constantly innovate and differentiate its products and services, while also ensuring quality, reliability, and sustainability.
Signify N.V. has a vision to unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. Signify N.V. aims to achieve this vision by pursuing three strategic goals: to grow its core business, to expand into new markets and segments, and to lead the industry transformation. Signify N.V. also has a commitment to become carbon neutral by 2020, and to double its positive impact on the environment and society by 2025.
Philips Hue, as the flagship brand of Signify N.V., will continue to play a key role in fulfilling this vision and these goals. Philips Hue will keep innovating and improving its products and features, to offer more value and convenience to its customers. Philips Hue will also keep collaborating and integrating with other smart home platforms and devices, to create a more connected and seamless lighting experience. Philips Hue will also keep exploring new possibilities and applications of smart lighting, such as health, wellness, security, and entertainment.
Conclusion
Philips Hue is not owned by Philips, but by Signify N.V., a company that was formerly known as Philips Lighting and was spun off from Philips in 2016. However, Philips Hue still uses the Philips brand name and logo, and still works with other Philips smart home devices. Philips Hue is one of the most popular and innovative smart lighting systems in the market, and it will continue to evolve and grow under the leadership and vision of Signify N.V.
