Bluetooth® Solution for Apple HomeKit Helps Developers Reduce Project Risk and Speed Time to Market

AUSTIN, Texas — (BUSINESS WIRE) — November 28, 2016 — Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) has introduced a Bluetooth® software solution that enables developers to efficiently create Apple HomeKit-enabled accessories. Silicon Labs’ Bluetooth solution with HomeKit support is pre-tested by Apple. This gives developers time-to-market benefits, eases engineering effort and helps end-product vendors minimize risks when getting their HomeKit-enabled accessories to market. Available as a library with clean, easy-to-use APIs, the Bluetooth 4.2-compliant software is pre-tested and certified by Apple to provide accessory developers with a low-risk solution that accelerates time-to-market.

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Silicon Labs supports Apple HomeKit development projects with a large portfolio of Wireless Gecko SoCs and modules, easy-to-use Simplicity Studio™ development tools, plugins for Bluetooth Developer Studio, example accessory applications and source code, an iOS app with source code, extensive documentation and technical support.

Get the details on developing Apple HomeKit-enabled accessories with Silicon Labs’ Bluetooth software, tools, and Wireless Gecko SoCs and modules at www.silabs.com/homekit.

Developing accessories based on the Apple HomeKit protocol and security technology can require multiple interoperability tests. Silicon Labs’ Bluetooth solution for Apple HomeKit is pre-tested and certified by Apple and has passed certification tests for the HomeKit specification. This pre-certification gives developers time-to-market benefits, eases engineering effort and helps end-product vendors minimize risks when getting their devices certified by Apple.

“Silicon Labs can help smart home accessory developers accelerate time to market and successfully integrate their products with HomeKit,” said Riku Mettälä, Vice President of Marketing for IoT products at Silicon Labs. “We’ve invested significant time and engineering effort to ensure that our Bluetooth software complies with Apple HomeKit specifications. Developers who use our pre-tested solution will be many steps ahead along the path for iOS customers to use Siri voice control and the Home app to control their smart home products.”

In addition to implementing the capabilities required to develop Apple HomeKit accessories, Silicon Labs’ Bluetooth 4.2-compliant protocol stack supports key features such as LE secure connections for secure Bluetooth pairing, LE packet extensions for higher throughput, and LE dual topology for flexible network configurations and over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates.

Silicon Labs provides comprehensive software tools to simplify Apple HomeKit development. Simplicity Studio streamlines IoT design with one-click access to an Eclipse-based IDE, energy profiling, configuration and network analysis tools, demos, software examples, documentation, tech support and community forums. Silicon Labs’ BGScript language simplifies Bluetooth development with an easy-to-use BASIC-like syntax. Simplicity Studio also supports third-party tools such as the Bluetooth SIG’s Bluetooth Developer Studio, which enables developers to auto-generate code for Apple HomeKit accessories and get up and running in less than an hour.

The core of Silicon Labs’ hardware offering for Apple HomeKit development is the Wireless Gecko SoC portfolio including Blue Gecko SoCs for Bluetooth applications. Silicon Labs also offers several Bluetooth module families including the new ultra-small BGM12x system-in-package (SiP) module. Featuring integrated antennas and regulatory certifications, wireless modules are ideal for developers who want to reduce engineering costs and speed time to market. Silicon Labs also supports designers with easy-to-use development kits, including the new Thunderboard Sense sensor-to-cloud kit.

Pricing and Availability

Silicon Labs’ Bluetooth software for Apple HomeKit is available free of charge to Apple Made for iPod/iPhone/iPad (MFi) program licensees. To request Silicon Labs’ Apple HomeKit SDK, example applications and documentation, visit http://www.silabs.com/homekit. Silicon Labs’ Technical Support team will verify your MFi account and grant access.

To order Blue Gecko SoCs, modules and development kits, visit www.silabs.com/bluetooth. Silicon Labs’ mobile app for iOS devices is available free of charge from the Apple Store.

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Silicon Labs

Silicon Labs (NASDAQ: SLAB) is a leading provider of silicon, software and solutions for the Internet of Things, Internet infrastructure, industrial automation, consumer and automotive markets. We solve the electronics industry’s toughest problems, providing customers with significant advantages in performance, energy savings, connectivity and design simplicity. Backed by our world-class engineering teams with unsurpassed software and mixed-signal design expertise, Silicon Labs empowers developers with the tools and technologies they need to advance quickly and easily from initial idea to final product. www.silabs.com