The slow adoption of Apple 's HomeKit protocol is down to the company forcing companies that wish to integrate with the platform to fit Apple - branded chips prior to launch , according to industry sources speaking to The Guardian . We're also told that, right now, third-party products have little choice at the moment but to use Wi-Fi to share data, which makes the products more energy intensive than expected, requiring them to be plugged into a power source. Apple has forced all companies looking to release HomeKit - compatible products into signing an NDA , though a few went off the record to confirm their frustration with the slow moving launch . The reason behind the delays is a last - minute change to HomeKit security . Customers have been complaining that , having bought a device they assumed to be HomeKit compatible via an over - the - air upgrade , they now have to buy an entirely new product .
The slow adoption of Apple 's HomeKit protocol is down to the company forcing companies that wish to integrate with the platform to fit Apple - branded chips prior to launch , according to industry sources speaking to The Guardian . Apple has forced all companies looking to release HomeKit - compatible products into signing an NDA , though a few went off the record to confirm their frustration with the slow moving launch . The reason behind the delays is a last - minute change to HomeKit security . Customers have been complaining that , having bought a device they assumed to be HomeKit compatible via an over - the - air upgrade , they now have to buy an entirely new product .