Signify (formerly Philips Lighting) has announced that lightbulbs in its A19 and BR30 range are now available with Bluetooth support, allowing users to control them via their smartphones without having to connect to a Philips Hue Bridge. Once connected to the corresponding Bluetooth app, users can switch the lights on and off by tapping the phone or giving instructions to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, choose from millions of colours and any shade of white light to paint the wall and use pre-set scenes to set the mood or to match daily routines.
In a statement, the company said users can start with a single light bulb or instantly connect multiple Hue Bluetooth products, and later upgrade to the bridge to enjoy even more functionalities such as the ability to access the bulbs remotely even when away from home. Each bulb can accommodate up to 15 Bluetooth connections, said Signify.
The bulbs are already available in the US in three versions, namely White (USD 14.99), White Ambiance (USD 29.99) plus White and Color Ambiance (USD 49.99). They’ll be launched in Canada on 02 July and in Europe starting this autumn.
