“By adding HomeKit support, MediaTek takes another step in our mission to connect the world’s next billion people,” said SR Tsai, General Manager of MediaTek's Wireless Connectivity and Networking Business Unit.

“Customers have been looking for innovative, simple and secure technologies that power their home and our new SDKs with HomeKit support delivers that to them.”

MediaTek’s new SDKs support two SoCs, the MT7688 and MT7687. The MT7688, for smart appliances runs on Linux and powers higher performance, more complex use cases, such as wireless speakers and webcams.

The MT7687 is a low-power WiFi SoC, which enables any home appliance from garage doors, power switch to thermostats, and runs on the FreeRTOS operating system. This means all such appliances and uses can now be securely controlled from an iPhone, iPad or iPod touch using the MediaTek SoCs.

Smart appliances refer to appliances that are connected to the Internet, and are capable of carrying out their functions through remote control from a smart device, or on their own. As technology advances and prices decrease, smart home appliances are expected to be widely adopted on a global scale.