Apple removes the doorbell category from HomeKit at the Apple Store. If you are looking for HomeKit-compatible products in the online shop of the company, then you will not find the category “doorbell”. But now the iPhone provider has deleted them silently, quietly and secretly. It’s not clear if it will come back or not. It is assumed, however, that Amazon’s takeover of Ring has something to do with it.
Are there no HomeKit doorbells (more)?
When it comes to Apple’s own online shop, HomeKit-compatible doorbells are on the decline. If only one product of the company August was listed last anyway, the category has now completely disappeared.
In the summer of 2016, announcements of compatible doorbells with HomeKit support were made during the presentation of iOS 10 at WWDC. As a result, the public thought there would be a whole series of new products in the segment. Unfortunately, the wishes were not fulfilled.
Apple stamps doorbell category
Today, Apple even removed the appropriate category from the Apple Store online store. The manufacturers August and Ring promised “prompt” updates for their systems in 2016.
But then everything changed. Because Ring was taken over by Amazon. In fact, shortly after the acquisition, the start-up company emphasized that they would equip the Ring Pro and Floodlight products with HomeKit support. Two years later there are still no updates.
Security is Apple’s top priority
Meanwhile, there is speculation about the reasons for the absence. Because the two providers did not (yet) speak up. We have asked the press offices of both companies for a statement and will update the contribution accordingly in the event of a reply.
One hypothesis of the speculators is: Although Apple now allows HomeKit via software and hardware, the providers would fail due to encryption. However, this assertion raises doubts when one knows that at least the company August also offers HomeKit-compatible door locks, and has been doing so since 2015.