Today's news could help entrench HomeKit in China and other international markets. Until now the brand has even lacked support for Amazon Alexa or Google Home/Assistant, both of which are forthcoming after HomeKit if not around the same time. So far, Aqara gear hasn't been targeted at the North American market, but expanded platform support could serve as an entryway. Software authentication was incorporated as a feature of iOS 11.3 and tvOS 11.3. It's also uncertain whether Xiaomi will be using hardware or software authentication, and/or require some sort of bridge. It's not yet clear which products will get HomeKit, but there are a number of Aqara-branded devices on the market ranging from water, door, and temperature sensors through to security cameras and even curtain motors. The announcement was made at a Shanghai technology conference, where Xiaomi also showed off things like a lightbulb, a new Cube Controller, and a second-generation Smart Doorlock, which has a fingerprint sensor built into its handle. HomeKit compatibility is coming, and will probably be added by the end of 2018, according to Xiaomify.