Chipmaker Marvell announced today that it has become “the industry’s first silicon vendor to develop a fully supported SDK” for Apple’s new HomeKit home automation platform, supplying a full hardware and software platform to accessory manufacturers. As part of the support, Marvell has an SDK for HomeKit that includes a “88MC200 microcontroller, advanced Avastar 88W8801 Wi-Fi SoC and EZ-Connect software.”
We previously reported that chipmakers had started providing small quantities of wireless chips to some companies for HomeKit products, but this is the first time a silicon vendor has announced a complete HomeKit software and hardware solution for developers:
HomeKit from Apple is a framework in iOS 8 for communicating with and controlling connected accessories in a user’s home. Marvell’s SDK for HomeKit is available on its EZ-Connect™ IoT Platform, including Marvell’s 88MC200 microcontroller and advanced Avastar® 88W801 Wi-Fi system-on-chip (SoC). The SDK is already being used by several hardware manufacturers and paves the way for the first HomeKit accessories to be brought to market.
Despite the presence of quite a few prototype Apple HomeKit products at this year’s CES, actual accessories have yet to hit the market.
Apple began to accept product plans for HomeKit accessories through its MFi licensing program last November. It’s also been working with accessory makers to fine-tune both products and the platform before an official launch. Marvell notes that its new SDK is “already being used by several hardware manufacturers and paves the way for the first HomeKit accessories to be brought to market,” so it shouldn’t be long before the first products hit store shelves.
Marvell’s IoT Platform is Industry’s First to Offer Full HomeKit Support to Hardware Manufacturers
Marvell’s SDK for HomeKit includes EZ-Connect IoT platform with 88MC200 microcontroller, advanced Avastar 88W8801 Wi-Fi SoC and EZ-Connect software
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (March 10, 2015) — Marvell (NASDAQ: MRVL) — a worldwide leader in providing complete silicon solutions from mobile communications to storage, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud infrastructure, digital entertainment and in-home content delivery and Kinoma® software enabling the “Smart Life and Smart Lifestyle”— today announced that it is the industry’s first silicon vendor to develop a fully supported SDK for HomeKit. HomeKit from Apple is a framework in iOS 8 for communicating with and controlling connected accessories in a user’s home. Marvell’s SDK for HomeKit is available on its EZ-Connect™ IoT Platform, including Marvell’s 88MC200 microcontroller and advanced Avastar® 88W801 Wi-Fi system-on-chip (SoC). The SDK is already being used by several hardware manufacturers and paves the way for the first HomeKit accessories to be brought to market.
“At Marvell we aim to expand the role of IoT in the home, which is a significant trend in the new era of ‘Smart Life and Smart Lifestyle,’” said Weili Dai, President and Co-Founder at Marvell. “By adding HomeKit support, we hope to empower millions of consumers around the world with innovative connected applications and experiences.”
Marvell’s EZ-Connect Wi-Fi Microcontroller IoT platform features a powerful Cortex-M3 microcontroller (88MC200) and a best-in-class 802.11n wireless radio (88W8801) that together provide the essential pieces for enabling a HomeKit solution. Marvell’s SDK for HomeKit is built on top of the field-proven and industry-leading EZ-Connect Software SDK and greatly simplifies the development of HomeKit accessories. Hardware manufacturers using Marvell’s SDK for HomeKit benefit from the complete, supported implementation of the HomeKit framework and are able to save months of development effort and can instead focus their efforts on innovative product features or providing great user experiences.
Marvell’s Wi-Fi microcontroller IoT platform powers many IoT products available in the market and has been adopted by many industry leaders developing connected home products such as appliances, lighting, and home-automation as well as products in other IoT markets such as toys, wearables, accessories, and commercial applications.
For more information about the Marvell’s IoT solutions, please visit: http://www.marvell.com/solutions/internet-of-things/
Marvell at Mobile World Congress Marvell’s latest technologies will be showcased at Mobile World Congress 2015, being held March 2 –March 5, 2015, at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona. To see demonstrations and learn more, show attendees and media can visit the Marvell booth, located in Hall 8.1 Stand CC8.13-15.
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