LIFX partners with Qualcomm to build smart lighting reference designs

The Internet of Things’ go to is the lightbulb. Today Qualcomm announced a plug and play system for third parties to create their own connected lightbulb that works with the company’s AllJoyn connection protocol. 

In a partnership with smart lightbulb maker LIFX, the tiny chips design can be licensed from Qualcomm by any company wanting to jump into the Internet of Things without having to deal with the alphabet soup of connection protocols that are currently out there. 

And because the chipset is AllJoyn enabled, and other devices in a house that support that protocol will work with the lightbulbs. While lightbulbs are the low hanging fruit of connected home, Qualcomm is looking beyond just flicking lights off and on. 

“With the AllSeen and AllJoyn frameworks it allows for different devices in the home to discover other devices. You can combine that with machine learning for more efficient energy uses in the home,” said Qualcomm President Derek Aberle at today’s CES event.