Industry experts are saying the home automation race is over between Amazon, Apple, and Google, with Amazon comfortably in the lead. Experts cite the company's aggressive introductions of new devices and capabilities as being behind its market dominance.
While home builder Lennar Homes had originally had a deal with Apple to build Home Kit systems into their properties, it switched to working with Amazon after about 18 months, due in part to limited devices and connectivity. Indeed, MsPowerUser.com reports that Amazon Alexa integrates with more than "4,000 smart home devices with 1,200 unique brands," while Home Kit integrates with roughly 62. Amazon also has a variety of hardware available for potential home integration.
Shea Homes, is building retirement communities in California with Echo Dot smart speakers installed “directly into ceilings.” Shea Homes is America’s largest privately owned new home builder, primarily building mid-priced to high-end homes. “Apple is closed source about what will talk to their system, so we shied away from it. I don’t want to restrict what I think the future could be because I have no idea what it will be,” noted Arizona-based luxury home builder Meritage Homes’ vice president CR Herro. “Google, like Apple, ‘wasn’t ready for prime time,’” he continued, saying he plans a “substantial relationship with Amazon” in the future.
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