Charter Communications is working with Apple to help provide customers with better security for Apple’s HomeKit smart home platform. Charter is the first ISP to work with Apple to deliver a more secure experience for Spectrum Internet customers using HomeKit-enabled accessories, according to a press release about the Charter Apple HomeKit deal.
“We plan to support HomeKit as part of the Spectrum Connectivity Platform later this year to offer enhanced security and privacy to Apple customers, and a streamlined, easier process to onboard certified consumer devices to our customer’s home network,” Charter said in a prepared release.
HomeKit will enable Apple customers to restrict their HomeKit-certified devices from communicating with unauthorized internet services and ensure more privacy and security of their smart homes. Charter is open to working with additional companies to ensure Charter customers who don’t use HomeKit are protected as well.
Yesterday, Apple announced that HomeKit was adding support for several new types of devices this year, including home security cameras and routers. Apple continues to expand the types of devices that HomeKit can handle.
We reported last week that more consumers were adding home security systems. The number of U.S. broadband homes with security systems ticked upward – from 26% to 28% — as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, according to Parks Associates.