Broadcom announces hardware platform fully compatible with Apple's HomeKit framework

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
Posted:
in iPhone edited May 2015
Broadcom on Tuesday announced that the software development kit for its Wireless Internet Connectivity for Embedded Devices (WICED) platform has been fully vetted by Apple for use with the HomeKit framework, paving the way for wider adoption of the iOS-connected Internet of Things protocol.




With the WICED platform, Broadcom offers developers and OEMs a complete package solution for building HomeKit-compatible IoT devices. Broadcom was one of the first vendors to roll out Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip packages installed with HomeKit firmware.

"Today we reached another milestone for our WICED family with full HomeKit support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart," said Brian Bedrosian, Broadcom's Senior Director of Product Marketing, Wireless Connectivity. "By delivering a complete IoT platform with HomeKit compliance we are enabling developers and OEMs to deliver highly interoperable home connectivity solutions for the optimal consumer experience."

Apple first introduced HomeKit at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2014, promising iOS device users control access to connected home products like light switches, smart thermostats and more. At the time, Apple touted integration with Siri, saying iPhone and iPad owners would soon be able to use the virtual assistant to communicate with networked HomeKit hardware.

Since HomeKit's debut, compatible devices have been slow to market, but framework building blocks are slowly falling in place. In March, for example, chipmaker Marvell became the first Apple HomeKit partner to ship a HomeKit compliant SDK, while GE last week announced a line of compatible LED bulbs.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 11
    ross.alex.kross.alex.k Posts: 40member
    Can't wait til HomeKit becomes widely adopted! Then Apple can give Siri some more superpowers and I can ask her to do things like "turn on the alarm system, close the garage, etc."
  • Reply 2 of 11
    blazarblazar Posts: 270member
    ross.alex.k wrote: »
    Can't wait til HomeKit becomes widely adopted! Then Apple can give Siri some more superpowers and I can ask her to do things like "turn on the alarm system, close the garage, etc."

    Amen brother
  • Reply 3 of 11
    gumbigumbi Posts: 148member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ross.alex.k View Post



    Can't wait til HomeKit becomes widely adopted! Then Apple can give Siri some more superpowers and I can ask her to do things like "turn on the alarm system, close the garage, etc."



    Sort of like can already be achieved with Cortana+Insteon. 

  • Reply 4 of 11
    sid knowlessid knowles Posts: 4member

    Samsung just announced the Artik iOT platform. Am I correct in saying that this Broadcom competes with Artik and makes Artik redundant for Apple's HomeKit?

  • Reply 5 of 11
    SpamSandwichSpamSandwich Posts: 33,407member

    When Toto makes a remotely flushable toilet, we will be living in the future.

  • Reply 6 of 11
    mstonemstone Posts: 11,510member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by ross.alex.k View Post



    Can't wait til HomeKit becomes widely adopted! Then Apple can give Siri some more superpowers and I can ask her to do things like "turn on the alarm system, close the garage, etc."



    Siri is incredibly unreliable. I would never trust her to do anything important.

  • Reply 7 of 11
    mac_dogmac_dog Posts: 1,069member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by gumbi View Post


    Sort of like can already be achieved with Cortana+Insteon. 

     

    yeah, only better.
  • Reply 8 of 11
    ericthehalfbeeericthehalfbee Posts: 4,486member
    gumbi wrote: »

    Sort of like can already be achieved with Cortana+Insteon. 

    Or Siri+Insteon, already available. Or Siri plus several other smart home devices.

    mstone wrote: »

    Siri is incredibly unreliable. I would never trust her to do anything important.

    I find Siri quite reliable. And it's not like Siri will make a mistake and leave lights on or doors unlocked. You say "Please close the garage door" to which Siri might respond "The door is already closed" or "I'm closing it now.......it's closed".
  • Reply 9 of 11
    ross.alex.kross.alex.k Posts: 40member
    mstone wrote: »

    Siri is incredibly unreliable. I would never trust her to do anything important.
    Agreed but when she provides a quick verification of the task completed (or not completed) it is sufficient for me.
  • Reply 10 of 11
    lightbowlightbow Posts: 16member
    Does anyone have HomeKit hardware in their hands already? Lightbow already supports Philips hue, LIFX, and Belkin WeMo, but the next obvious step is HomeKit, once it actually exists (!!!). We're currently looking for beta testers to help bring the most incredible light-control app on the App Store into the new era with HomeKit support. The best way to get involved is to send us an email or sign up for the mailing list at www.lightbow.net/contact
  • Reply 11 of 11
    damn_its_hotdamn_its_hot Posts: 1,209member
    Quote:

    Originally Posted by gumbi View Post

     
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by ross.alex.k View Post



    Can't wait til HomeKit becomes widely adopted! Then Apple can give Siri some more superpowers and I can ask her to do things like "turn on the alarm system, close the garage, etc."



    Sort of like can already be achieved with Cortana+Insteon. 


     

    The reason this is news and your comment about Cortana isn't is because there are virtually no devices out there that have Cortana except for the WinPhone which makes it irrelevant. Maybe when they deliver this to the laptops (Scarface 3?) and desktop OEM machines they will have something that works. My problem with the latter scenario is that I want it on my iPhone or iPad so I can easily take it with me. Certainly using you have a way to control things that are connected -- but primarily from your home. No ability to check status while away on business or vacation, etc...

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