There are dozens of startups out there clamoring to unify the Internet of Things and provide a platform for every web-connected device to communicate with others, but they may as well just hang up their hats, because IFTTT is already building it.
Today, the company announced yet another trigger (they seem to be releasing new ones on a weekly basis now) that lets you connect the physical world to the digital one: a new “long press” feature for the Belkin WeMo Light Switch. Essentially, it allows users to activate different functions by pressing the switch for two seconds or more.
If you already own a WeMo Light Switch, you’ll need to update the firmware before you can utilize this new function, but anyone who purchases the switch now and in the future will get that functionality straight out of the box. To use it, all you need to do is activate the WeMo Light Switch channel on IFTTT, and then set it up to trigger any of the dozens of other actions IFTTT offers.
Want to send your family members a text when you’ve returned home? Just link the switch up to the SMS channel and you can let them know you’re safe with a long press. Want to quickly activate your favorite Philips Hue light settings at the touch of a button instead of firing up a smartphone app? Long press to the rescue. With so many different automations on the service, the possibilities are only limited by your imagination.
The new WeMo functionality is definitely a cool addition, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s small potatoes for IFTTT. With each new service they add, the company gains a stronger foothold in the race to become the go-to Internet of Things platform. They’ve already got channels built for some of the hottest smart home products on the market, and more are undoubtedly on the way in the future.
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