After eight months of waiting, Belkin’s bridge to Apple HomeKit is finally available for WeMo users. Plug it in and plug its Ethernet cable into your router, and it’ll act as middleman between your WeMo gadgets and Apple HomeKit’s iOS-and-Siri-based smart home controls. The cost? $40.
That’s honestly less than I expected Belkin would sell it for, and it works with more WeMo gadgets than I thought it would, too. Along with current-gen devices like the WeMo Mini and WeMo Dimmer, Belkin’s first-gen WeMo Switches (the big, bulky ones) get to come along for the ride as well, as does Belkin’s WeMo Motion Detector (though full motion support is still in the works — more on that in a bit). Neither of those are even sold anymore, so good on Belkin for not leaving them — and the customers who still use them — behind.
The addition of Siri controls completes the voice trifecta for WeMo, as its gadgets already work with Amazon’s Alexa and the Google Assistant. You don’t need an extra bridge accessory to connect with either of those voice assistants, though you will need a compatible voice device like the Amazon Echo or Google Home smart speakers, pictured above. With HomeKit, you’ll just talk to Siri through your iPhone or iPad, and you’ll be also able to give commands through the Apple HomePod smart speaker once that product arrives in the coming weeks.
