LG’s Smart Bulb brings the connected home one step closer

LG has announced the arrival of its first ever Smart Bulb, a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled device that you can control with a smartphone. Not only do these bulbs enable you to manage your home lighting from anywhere you can get a data signal, they also last for more than a decade and can save you up to 80 percent on your energy bills too, according to the manufacturer.

It’s a busy market that LG is dipping its toe into, with the likes of Philips, Belkin and Lumen already having a significant head start. Nevertheless, the more choice the better as far as consumers are concerned, and LG seems confident that its bulb can dazzle the competition.

Among the features you can expect from the Smart Bulb are a party mode (where brightness and blinking adjusts to the beat of your music) and a security mode (which switches your lights on and off while you’re away from the house). According to the press release, you can also get your bulbs to blink when you have an incoming call, and turn on slowly to wake you up.

There’s no word on international availability and pricing but GSM Arena seems to think we’ll see the bulbs go on sale in the coming days. If you’re tempted, the price is around $32 at today’s exchange rate, while compatible apps will be available for Android 4.3+ and iOS 6.0+. 2014 looks set to be the biggest year yet for connected home devices, with Samsung and Google two of the major players already making moves.