2015/5/14 1:20:32
Source: Web
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Apple
first announced HomeKit, its wireless protocol for connecting home automation
devices in iOS, almost an entire year ago at Apple’s developers conference in
June 2014. We’ve barely heard a peep from Apple since
then, but things slowly seem to be coming together.
Today,
the Irvine, Calif.-based chipmaker Broadcom has announced that its software
development kit for its WICED (which stands for “Wireless Internet
Connectivity for Embedded Devices”) platform will offer device makers full
HomeKit support. That means companies building their smart home gadgets
with Broadcom’s Bluetooth-WiFi chips can also get access to the HomeKit
protocols.
Apple’s HomeKit
protocol determines how devices are identified in iOS based on clearly defined
device categories and what sorts of actions can be taken with them — turning on
or off a light, for example. Ideally, this will allow the interactions between
devices to be more consistent and reliable than with previous wireless
protocols in home automation technology like ZigBee and
Z-Wave. HomeKit also uses end-to-end encryption for securely connecting
smart home gadgets and an Apple device.
To get
certification with Apple, Broadcom has gone through all of Apple’s extensive
testing for performance, speed and adherence to the protocol. And even
after the device makers build all the hardware and software
on Broadcom’s platform, these companies will still have submit their
gadgets to Apple’s MFi (“Made for iPhone/iPod/iPad”) certification for quality
assurance.
In the announcement, Broadcom calls itself “the first
company to meet HomeKit technical specifications for WiFi and Bluetooth
Smart.” Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker Marvell announced in
March Apple HomeKit certification in its own software
development kit for device makers using its WiFi chips.
Broadcom had already been
shipping its Bluetooth-WiFi combo chips with an early version
of the HomeKit firmware to a number of device makers late last year. Brian
Bedrosian, senior director of embedded wireless in the mobile and wireless
group at Broadcom, told me last November that it had begun shipping these chips
to companies making devices such as connected climate controls, lighting,
security cameras and door locks. Since then, Apple has been working on and
refining the HomeKit protocol.
“Apple
has way of catalyzing a marketplace, either with great
customer experience or new innovative ideas,” said Bedrosian in
a phone call on Monday. “HomeKit will provide its customers with a more
uniform experience across all connected products.
That’s something Apple does a great job with.”
Broadcom
already gets plenty of business selling its wireless chips to Apple — you can
find its silicon in the iPhone and Apple Watch. And now that Apple is doing
something in the smart home business, Broadcom is expecting more growth in
selling its connectivity chips for hardware makers in this still-young
industry.
Broadcom’s announcement today is just another bit of news
around HomeKit we’ve seen from outside the Apple camp recently. Last week, GE announced its
upcoming internet-connected LED lightbulbs that will be HomeKit
certified and will be out sometime later this year. But we’ve yet to hear
anything else from Apple on this front besides the initial announcement in June
2014. At Apple upcoming developers conference for this year in June, it’s been
reported that Apple will be launching a refresh of its Apple TV hardware,
which will have a beefier processor and HomeKit capabilities.
The whole smart home industry has been coming together in spurts
and starts — with the really big market movement taking place in January 2014when Google
bought learning-thermostat maker Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in
cash. Since then, we’ve seen Korean electronics giant Samsung make some
dramatic proclamations about the space — especially at this year’s
Consumer Electronics Show – and acquired
cloud-based smart home system provider SmartThings for a
reported $200 million, but not much else. Like many of these emerging consumer
electronics markets, people are waiting to see what Apple will do. But so
far, Apple really hasn’t had much to say.
(Credit: Web)