Bloomberg reports that Apple’s plans for smart home products include devices, sensors and cameras developed in collaboration with LG. Here are the details.
Apple and LG collaborate on home connected devices
Second BloombergApple and LG have worked together to develop a series of connected home products that will complement Apple’s upcoming smart home hub, marking “a formal reboot of HomeKit.”
This includes “a doorbell, a thermostat, […] a smart deadbolt lock, an indoor security camera, an outdoor security camera and a projector camera,” says Bloomberg.
Gurman notes that although Apple and LG “worked together to develop the accessories, the products will carry the LG brand,” adding that “the South Korean company is handling manufacturing and product support” and has sought regulatory approval in recent weeks.
This arrangement with so-called second-party suppliers gives Apple the ability to quickly expand its ecosystem without taking on the full cost and complexity of manufacturing and supporting a wide range of accessories. Apple can also help shape product designs, tailor features and oversee engineering while keeping the work largely under wraps.
It’s worth noting that while these products are part of Apple’s larger push into the connected home, which is expected to expand next week with the introduction of its new smart home hub, an updated Apple TV and a new HomePod mini, Bloomberg says that “the products aren’t expected to reach consumers for at least another few months.”
Here you are Bloomberg:
In recent weeks, LG has sought regulatory approval for the devices, including with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and UL Solutions, a product certification company. In many cases, both organizations’ databases include documents revealing product names, specifications, features and accessory designs.
This includes products labeled as LG Video Doorbell Wired, LG Floodlight Cam, LG Outdoor Cam Plug-In, LG Indoor Cam Plug-In, LG Smart Deadbolt Lock, LG Smart Thermostat, and LG Temperature Sensor. LG has asked that photos and more specific product details remain confidential until early next year. The documents do not mention Apple’s involvement.
When it comes to connectivity and standards, the report notes that many devices will support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, and Matter. He adds that the smart lock also includes UWB (ultra-wide band), which will enable proximity-based features such as automatic door unlocking.
Finally, the report notes that for both Apple and LG, these products will mark a broader expansion into the smart home market, with Apple looking to inject new momentum into its home ecosystem:
[Apple] it is also planning its own additional offerings in the future, including a privacy-focused home monitoring device, a version of its smart home hub that connects the screen to a robotic arm, and a home security monitoring service, Bloomberg News reported.
It’s worth pointing out that while today’s report comes on the heels of Apple’s announcement of the much-rumored “HomePad” connected home hub and other products next week, LG-made accessories aren’t expected to reach consumers for at least another few months.
To read Bloomberg’s full report, follow this link.
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