Apple Introduces HomeKit To Securely Pair iPhones With Smart Home Devices

We’ve seen hundreds of so-called “smart” connected devices pop up over the last few years — everything from smart thermostats to smart refrigerators — but with that proliferation of devices has also come confusion about what device works with what smartphone platform.

Today at WWDC, Apple is seeking to eliminate some of that confusion with HomeKit, a new toolkit for iOS 8 developers that will create a standard for developers to pair their iPhones with different smart home devices. That will make it simpler for users to provide secure access to those devices.

The smart home program was first reported in the Financial Times.

According to Apple SVP Craig Federighi, the HomeKit API will create a secure pairing structure, so that developers can control individual devices in your home and group them together. Combine that with the extension of Touch ID to third-party apps, and you could unlock your door with your fingerprints.

It will also have Siri integration, which could allow users to say “good night” to their phone, which could signal that smart locks should be locked and smart lamps turned off.