The massive manufacturing conglomerate that is General Electric is hedging its bets when it comes to the burgeoning market for “smart lighting” by announcing new agreements with both Apple and Qualcomm that will see technology from both companies being embedded in a new line of LED bulbs to be released later this year.
The bulbs will integrate chipsets and compatibility with Qualcomm’s “indoor positioning” technology that will be aimed at businesses, while bulbs featuring Apple’s yet to be released “HomeKit” platform will target consumers by enabling dynamic lighting based on information such as the circadian rhythm of a person.
By tying up with both companies, GE expects to gain a foothold in the newest markets being opened up as a result of the development of the “Internet of Things” that is allowing for internet control of typically standalone systems, such as refrigeration, air conditioning, lighting and security.
