Accessories connected to HomeKit have been becoming increasingly affordable and have been increasing their presence in the market gradually, since this technology was introduced for the first time, but there is still room for improvement. Trying to remedy some of the problems with the Apple platform for connected homes, Silicon Labs has announced a new initiative that expected to get accessories for HomeKit to be cheaper and easier to create for the developers of such products.
The solution that Silicon Labs aims to consists of two main parts: a custom software that has been pre-probado and approved by Apple, and a hardware with Bluetooth module. Silicon Labs Protocol is compatible with Bluetooth 4.2 is crucial for the HomeKit devices, since it supports connection of low energy and safest devices matching technology.
The first step in this process is that manufacturers purchase the Bluetooth SDK of the HomeKit of Silicon Labs. Therefore, to do this you must be holder of a license to Apple MFI. If this requirement is met, there is no problem accessing it. Accessories Apple HomeKit Protocol and the necessary security technology-based may require multiple interoperability testing. The Bluetooth Silicon Labs for Apple HomeKit solution has been pretesteado and Apple-certified and has passed certification for the HomeKit specification tests.
This pre-certification offers developers benefits when it comes to putting their products on the market. It also reduces the efforts to be undertaken in it comes to engineering and helps sellers of finished products to minimize risks to be able to access devices certified by Apple.
In addition, the software package provided by Silicon Labs offers developers a wide range of tools that make possible the generation of code for the HomeKit accessories and get that they are running in less than an hour. This includes Simplicity Studio v4, Energy Profiler and many more.
The magnitude of this announcement is very important for developers, but really in the end benefits will fall also on users. With a process much more simple and affordable making devices compatible with HomeKit Silicon Labs tools, manufacturers of accessories will be now much more than agreement on supporting the Apple of home automation platform. Often it gives that HomeKit only is reserved for devices and systems more expensive.
With the new native application for the home in IOS 10, Apple is starting to promote the use of HomeKit towards a more common market. He has even begun to see in some countries as houses makers start to consider this system in promoting the sale of its buildings. Increase the adoption of the system by a majority of users, however, will require a variant of accessories, which are compatible and are available at a lower price. The ideal would be that the new solutions of hardware + SDK silicone Labs expedite that process. To begin the process of acquisition of the SDK (free) and the purchase of hardware, stakeholders can contact the website of Silicon Labs.
With this announcement, it seems that the general public can finally expect HomeKit use becomes more popular and, above all, that accessories and electronic home monitoring devices down their price and are more affordable for the user medium. To date, HomeKit use is very limited and should be a wide pocket to address the high price which often have attachments. It would be nice that the solution of Silicon Labs unthought and spread its use among the vast majority of manufacturers.
