Apple-Certified HomeKit Accessories Launching Next Month

The first batch of home automation accessories, like thermostat and garage door openers, compatible with Apple's HomeKit will be hitting shelves next month, the company announced yesterday.

HomeKit is a set of tools in Apple's iOS 8 software that is designed to work with smart home devices.

The platform was announced last year at the conference for developers, but the devices leveraging the tool kit were yet to launch.

"HomeKit has been available for just a few months and we already have dozens of partners who have committed to bringing HomeKit accessories to market and we're looking forward to the first ones coming next month," Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller said in a statement.

Apple's statement comes on the heels of a report published in Fortune that said Apple's software platform to connect smart home devices was experiencing problems and hence the introduction of first HomeKit devices were being delayed.

Apple had introduced the HomeKit hardware certification program in November.

Apple did not specify where the accessories would be sold.