New for accessory makers in iOS 7: Open AirPlay audio, Apple-designed hearing aid tech, device management, much more
We already told you about a few big new features in terms of improvements to Bluetooth coming in iOS 7: Developers will now have a standardized controller framework …
Context & Ripple Effects
Apple had already directed MFi partners toward next-generation accessories using AirPlay over Bluetooth 4.0 in 2011. iOS 7 supplies the software-facing pieces of that roadmap: standardized Bluetooth controls, AirPlay audio access, hearing-aid technology, and device-management features.
First-order effects
- MFi accessory makers gain defined iOS 7 interfaces for Bluetooth control and AirPlay audio, reducing the need to build around product-specific behavior.
- Hearing-aid makers and device-management vendors receive Apple-provided technology and management hooks to incorporate into iOS-compatible products.
Second-order effects
- Accessory makers will compete more on hardware design and the usefulness of their companion experiences as shared iOS interfaces lower integration friction.
- Enterprise buyers gain a stronger basis to evaluate iOS alongside managed-device requirements, making management support a more important capability for vendors serving those customers.
Third-order effects
- If manufacturers adopt these interfaces broadly, Apple’s accessory ecosystem shifts toward platform-defined interoperability, with iOS APIs setting the baseline for compatible hardware rather than each maker’s proprietary connection method.
The trend: Apple is widening iOS from a device operating system into a governed accessory platform, pairing more interoperable developer hooks with Apple-defined integration standards.