HomeKit doorbells not dead as first model set to start shipping in early 2019

In 2018, there was much ado about nothing regarding the mysterious "disappearance" of HomeKit doorbells from Apple's own HomeKit microsite. AppleInsider reported at the time that it was likely Apple temporarily hiding the category until a product was ready to be released to market.

Now, that looks to have been the case as the first HomeKit doorbell is scheduled to begin shipping to the U.S. in early 2019.

The Robin ProLine VDi 720p supposedly received certification from Apple's MFi team on December 14th, with shipments sent to begin in international markets by the end of the month. FCC certification is planned for February with shipments scheduled for the U.S. market by March.

Robin's ProLine doorbell has a metal front, with a camera on top, a grille towards the bottom, and a small screen in the center. Using HomeKit, owners can see who is at the door, hear them, and chat with two-way audio.

In the Robin app, settings can be adjusted for speaker volume, microphone strength, and install updates. It can be tied to existing chime to not rely solely on your iPhone or iPad.

According to Robin Telecom, they opted for the hardware authentication chip rather than the newer software route that debuted with iOS 11.3.

AppleInsider has not yet had a chance to demo the product for ourselves, so we can't vouch for its veracity — but we have seen a video of the device in action.

Robin Telecom has a sign-up form on its company site to be notified when it will be available.

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