The Bluetooth SIG caught up with iDevices last week at CES as they launched the iDevices Switch, the world’s first HomeKit-enabled connected plug. Switch allows users to manage their home from wherever they are using the iDevices Connected app and their iDevices Switch. Most notably, users can command Siri to control their home settings, set schedules, or give alerts based on activity. Chris Allen, CEO and founder of iDevices, is a leader in the smart home space. We asked him a few questions about the potential of smart home, where the industry is going, and how Bluetooth® Smart technology plays a pivotal role in enabling their product line. This is what Chris had to say.

How do you envision the Smart Home market evolving in the next five years?

IoT buzz will fade into the background and the focus will shift to Artificial Intelligence (AI). People will become disenchanted with needing to manually control a light bulb or security system, they’ll want products that can better their lives and provide value instead of just more tech for technology’s sake. Products that understand what you’d like to do without telling them, that learn on their own, and that adapt to your practices without ever taking your phone out of your pocket.

How will iDevices help make the Internet of Things a reality and what role does Bluetooth Smart play in home automation?

We believe that our first-to-market development and unprecedented expertise will make us leaders in IoT and the connected home space. We made the strategic decision to include both Bluetooth Smart and Wi-Fi into our Switch to really ease the set-up process for our users and ensure that you’ll never lose a connection even if the Wi-Fi cuts out. The inclusion of Bluetooth Smart in our products also opens the doors for future possibilities of connecting non-Wi-Fi products to our iDevices cloud for remote access. Bluetooth Smart allows the iDevices Switch to be one of the most reliable products in the smart home market. This technology makes it possible to use our plug without relying on an Internet connection.

Tell us about the new product you just launched at CES 2015.

We are really excited about this new product. It’s taking iDevices in a new direction and really putting us at the top of the home automation space. The iDevices Switch is one of the first HomeKit-enabled products to hit the market. Switch allows consumers to control and manage their home via their iPhone or iPad in the most intelligent way possible. Features include Siri voice control, dynamic event scheduling, a customizable LED nightlight, and the ability to link products to create dynamic scenes (for example “Hey Siri, I’m going to bed.”), all with no additional hardware or hubs needed. The iDevices Switch is available for pre-order and will be shipping in Q2 of 2015.

What can we expect to see from iDevices in the next 5 years?

The biggest thing on a CEO’s radar is how to keep their products relevant in the marketplace today, engage users in new ways, and drive analytics that will help them develop great products year after year through customer interactions with the application. iDevices will continue to stay ahead of the game in terms of IoT and the connected world, developing products that meet consumer expectations and needs. Our mission is, and always will be, to enhance the lives of consumers through technology and products that are intelligent at their core.

How do you envision the beacon technology market evolving in the next five years?

Beacon technology will evolve from being just a sales tactic. We believe that beacon technology will allow consumers a level of convenience instead of advertising and marketing to them.

How do you envision beacon technology working with smart home technology in the connected home?

Our view is that beacon technology is a more commercial application and less of a home app. People don’t want to be notified in their home. They want a more invisible presence instead of a visible presence.

(Credit: Nanci Taplett)