The British smart home company, Hive, has started providing support for Apple's HomeKit with a soft launch, which began last week. HomeKit support comes after a long delay from the initial announcement that it was in the works and after the introduction of support for Siri shortcuts in June last year.

Hive HomeKit integration requires the latest Hive Hub or Hub 360 and can be enabled through version 10.28.0 of the Hive app, which is now available in the AppStore. Once the latest update is installed, users will only need to follow a few simple steps to activate the HomeKit:

• Make sure you're connected to the same Wi-Fi network as the Hive Hub
• Open the Hive app and sign in (if needed)
• Open the menu
• Touch "Install devices"
• Scroll down and tap "HomeKit"
• Follow the instructions on the screen

According to a frequent HomeKit support page, the accessories that work with the platform include the entire connected lighting line of the company. Currently, the hive offers white and color variants of bulbs that cover a range of sizes, including E14, E27, B22 and GU10.

Additional accessories include Hive's Active Plug and Hive Active heating thermostat. Unfortunately, the bracket does not extend to the SLT5 wired thermostat or radiator valves.

Once connected, Hive accessories will be available through the Home app and will work with automation and scenes, as well as Siri for convenient voice controls. More details on HomeKit Hive integration, including a list of Siri commands that are now available, can be found here.