GE (General Electric) has announced that it will be partnering with Apple and Qualcomm to breathe new life into its lighting division. The partnerships are exclusive and while GE is a partner to both, there will be no relation between Apple and Qualcomm.
The partnership with Qualcomm will allow retailers to connect with their customers’ smartphone by technology embedded into LED light bulbs. One such use would be something called “indoor positioning” which offers a way to transmit customized coupons to customers based on their location within the store.
They are also partnering with Apple to produce an LED bulb that will be compatible with Apple’s upcoming HomeKit platform. The bulb will be able to change colors in order to match the natural rhythms of our body.
While GE is interested in selling energy-efficient LED bulbs to customers, it is also very keen on providing LED bulbs with smart features to enhance customers’ lives. The intelligent lighting market is gaining a lot of attention from manufacturers as well especially from firms such as Honeywell which also plans to take a dive into the market.