Apple’s splash into home automation with addition of HomeKit to iOS 8 is expected to have a huge impact on sales of smart home devices in 2015 according to a Park Associates report that found 37% of U.S. households plan to purchase one or more devices next year.
The rising popularity in smart home device sales has been aided by both Apple and Google introducing new solutions in 2014. The research firm discovered retailers are getting ready for smart home devices to hit the mainstream by expanding shelf space for items like Nest thermometers, Philips Hue bulbs, smart door locks and other items.
“Best Buy in particular is devoting over 800 square feet in some locations to its connected home initiative. The entry of big brands like Apple, Google, and Honeywell is also increasing consumer awareness and making smart home devices popular as gifts.”
Apple began its push into the smart home market by allowing developers to use the HomeKit framework in iOS to control smart accessories in the home. HomeKit lets iOS device users to discover, configure and control accessories, as well as use Siri to trigger actions.
Smart thermostats are the most popular smart home purchases right now, accounting for 27% of device sales in the first three quarters of 2014. About 32% of smart devices were bought as gifts in 2013, but Parks and Associates analysts expect the shopping season to push 2014’s final numbers past last year’s mark.
After surveying 10,000 households, the firm found that smart lights will be the most popular purchase in 2014, with programmable thermostats dropping to fourth place now that competing products like smart appliances are becoming popular.
Here’s the full breakdown on what consumers intend to buy next year:
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
9 responses to “Smart home is about to blow up thanks to Apple”
Thanks to Apple? Almost everyone says how Google will take around 90% of the Internet of Things and Apple will be nowhere to be found. I’m pretty sure that’s the general consensus. Android will offer more devices and any Android devices will cost half of what Apple’s devices will cost. At this point in time Wall Street has declared a landslide victory for Google and Android while Apple gets a big fail.
Not true. If you go to any dealer that carries Home Automation products, they typically support both iOS and Android. Now, if you go outside your local Best Buy and deal with the higher end professional installations, they are typically more done with iOS devices than Android. Why? The people that have lots of money to drop on a professional installation typically buy iOS devices. Simple fact. there are companies that dedicate just to the Apple users. Go look up Savant Systems, they are 100% Apple, they run their s/w on Apple computers as the hub and then on iDevices. That’s a high end home automation company that is professionally installed. IF you talk to the people that do these installs, they will tell you that Apple is typically what they use. Sorry to burst your Android bubble. Android products are popular amongst the people that simply don’t have money. Look up the majority of Android devices, they are typically the low end cheap smartphone market. The only reason why Google might make more money is simply because they bought Nest, but Nest runs on both platforms.
Well in part it would be thanks to Apple. True they are three years behind on several fronts, but when Apple gets involved in old stuff and adds it, the markets start flooding in and add support.
Google Wallet. Nobody cared. AT&T softcard. Nobody cared.
NFC Apple Pay. Now you have MasterCard Pass flooding in merchants. You have WellsFargo on board. Eventually more banks will support NFC and apple pay for the first time. Merchants that haven’t supported NFC are hopping in soon.
Home Automation didn’t give any oohs and aahs to the public. Heck I only seen 5 homes per street actually sign up for it. Add Apple to the cart, it’ll start flooding with homes joining home security and automation soon.
How many times have we read over and over again that Apple will fail? And how many times has it been proven wrong?
It’s just sad to see so much Apple “sauce” on these sites lips.
I know, right? Who would expect there to be Apple “sauce” on a site called “Cult of Mac”? It’s crazy!
A more accurate assessment: Retailers expect to sell devices to 37% of Wi-fi households. Personally, I’ve got better things to buy when light bulbs are running $40 each, like food, electricity, a mortgage!!!
Exactly why you are the wrong demographic/ Target market for this blossoming industry. Home automation is more for the techie type affluent crowd that want to take their home to the next level of technology. They already own the iPhone, IPad and other idevices and now with home kit platform it will be an easy integration for this crowd to add Smart home capabilities to their devices. Home automation has never been for the basic homeowner, largely due to cost and technological complexity, but with home kit hopefully it will simplify the process which will lead to appealing to the masses and eventually Bring prices down of smart devices in the home.
Plan on spending a lot more on that electricity than you would with LED fixtures.