2016 could see Microsoft and Apple fight for home automation domination

Since the announcement of Apple HomeKit, home automation has seen its brief spotlight moment, followed by a long period of near obscurity. Home automation, after all, it’s a rather complex matter that involves manufacturers working together to create a standard as unified as it can be, so as not to complicate the lives of consumers.

By July 29th, Microsoft is planning on placing a bet on home automation, and challenge Apple’s own HomeKit with AllJoin, a technology that was announced back in November’s announcement of Windows 10.

As senior director of IoT at the Linux Foundation, Philip DesAutel, puts it, AllJoin’s technology is “... like dialtone for things”. According to AllSeenAlliance.org, AllJoin, initially developed by Qualcomm, is an “...open, universal, secure and programmable software connectivity and services framework that enables companies and enterprises to create interoperable products that can discover, connect and interact directly with other AllJoyn-enabled products...”.

A large number of manufacturers have already baked AllJoin into their products and appliances, including Electrolux, Honeywell, LG, and of course, Qualcomm.

As previously mentioned, the working principle of AllJoin is to allow all devices to connect and communicate with each other and be controlled/monitored through a number of devices running Linux, Android and also Windows 10.

Since most new appliances already integrate the technology, chances are Windows 10 usership will cover a lot more than the estimated 10 million, all the way up to a billion devices worldwide.

If the technology catches on, Microsoft could find itself competing directly with Apple for smart home appliance control, a still emerging market with huge growth potential.