Apple’s HomeKit development has been progressing at a sluggish pace, due to the company’s high security standards and specific identity chip requirements, reported MacRumors and other technology media reports.
The Cupertino company’s HomeKit smart home software framework for communicating and controlling light bulbs, thermostats, door locks and other connected accessories in the home.
Latest reports from Cult of Mac suggest developers were unaware that those interested in joining Apple HomeKit will be required to use a special ID chip, which relates to accessing the cloud, and triggering geo-location.
Developers will probably be asked to buy the chips from Apple’s certified chip makers, and the functions of this specific component has remained unclear.
Apple’s stringent Bluetooth LE security requirements has also significantly slowed down the rollout of HomeKit accessories, and only five HomeKit approved products have been launched on the market as of late including theEcobee3, Elgato Eve, iHome iSP5 SmartPlug, Insteon Hub and Lutron Caseta Wireless Lighting Starter Kit.
According to Forbes, Apple has particularly strict security requirements for Bluetooth LE (low energy) devices. The high level of encryption to use the HomeKit protocol through Bluetooth LE has caused lag times that has affected smartlock functions and made it practically useless. Smartlocks might need to wait nearly 40 seconds before it can opens.
Chipmakers including Broadcom and Marvell have been trying to work around this issue by improving Bluetooth LE chips to handle Apple’s level of encryption more effectively. Some developers are turning to WiFi solutions instead.
Other developers, such as Elgato has adjusted its firmware and added additional on-chip memory to handle the encryption, and is aiming to sell its solution to other device makers that want to build HomeKit devices with Bluetooth LE.
Tedious certification process for it’s “Made for iPhone/iPad/iPod" (MFi) program has further delayed HomeKit developments. HomeKit accessory makers are required to send multiple prototypes of their products to Apple for testing, and the process can be very lengthy.
