MediaTek Reveals Tie-Up With Apple HomeKit

Apple’s HomeKit smart home technology platform has gained the backing of another major mobile player thanks to the launch of a set of software tools from MediaTek.

The Taiwanese chipmaker has announced at its Executive Forum in London today that it will be releasing two software development kits (SDKs) that will let users control their smart appliances using an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch.

Any appliances powered by the MediaTek MT7688 and MT7687 processors will fall under the new tools, which cover the likes of wireless speakers and webcams, but also include such products as smart garage doors and thermostats.

“Building partnerships with Apple and embracing HomeKit is an approach we want to embrace to continue to improve our activity in the IoT domain,” MediaTek’s JC Hsu told attendees.

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“By adding HomeKit support, MediaTek takes another step in our mission to connect the world’s next billion people,” said SR Tsai, general manager of MediaTek’s wireless connectivity and networking business unit.

“Customers have been looking for innovative, simple and secure technologies that power their home and our new SDKs with HomeKit support delivers that to them.”

First announced in June 2014, HomeKit is widely seen as being Apple’s major drive towards the Internet of Things market, although the company was unwilling to set a concrete release date.

The platform will allow customers to use their Apple device for a variety of smart home functions, including the ability to control locks, lights, cameras, doors, thermostats, plugs and switches at home, all via corresponding apps.

The first batch of HomeKit-approved products went on sale back in July, and included an ecobee3 smart thermostat that can be controlled using Siri, as well as creating specialised settings that allow a home to be quickly set into certain states, such as warming up before the user arrives home or cooling down at night-time.

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