Google-owned Nest is considering HomeKit support

Nest could soon be headed to Apple’s HomeKit platform, according to reports.

When asked by 9to5Mac whether the company would look into the new features of iOS 11 that make old smart home technologies easier to support, the company said that it would “consider HomeKit”.

Earlier this month, Apple confirmed big changes to its HomeKit platform with iOS 11, introducing software authentication support, which means that smart home accessories that aren’t part of the Made-for-iPhone program could be supported by the Siri-supported technology.

The new update will roll out with iOS 11 this September, before Apple’s new HomePod is released for sale later in the year.

Many technology fans have speculated that Nest would not support HomeKit because it is owned by Google and its parent company Alphabet, and integrates with Google Home, but it now looks as though the technology could be supported in the coming months.

Apple’s strict hardware authentication requirement for HomeKit has, up until now, meant that a lot of smart home technology companies have avoided the platform.

Of course, most of the biggest technology companies have added support for HomeKit has they released newer generations of their products, but older products still cannot be used as part of the HomeKit, rendering some smart home technology useless for fans of iOS.

Would you be more interested in using Nest products if they officially supported HomeKit and worked with your iOS devices and HomePod? Let us know on Twitter using @AppleMagazine.

About the Author

Jack is a Creative Manager at Precise English, a copywriting and marketing agency in the United Kingdom. Jack loves entertainment, and runs the celebrity news website CelebMix in his spare time.