LG unveils 'Smart Bulb' for Android and iOS devices

LG has announced its latest household lighting concept – an LED light bulb that can be controlled using a smartphone and blinks when the user gets a phone call.  It is a Smart Bulb, a Wi-Fi and Bluetooth-enabled device that you can control with a smartphone. Not only do these bulbs enable you to manage your home lighting from anywhere you can get a data signal, they also last for more than a decade and can save you up to 80 percent on your energy bills too, according to the manufacturer.

LG claims that the Smart Bulb can work with devices running Android 4.3 and above, and iOS 6 and above. Notably, at launch the Smart Bulb is only compatible with Android devices. The bulbs should run for more than 10 years, provided you use them five hours a day, LG claims. LG's Smart Bulb is not the only connected light bulb around. Recently, a company called AwoX announced a light bulb that can double as a Bluetooth speaker. We've also seen several Kickstarter projects to create a connected light bulb; the Wi-Fi enabled LIFX is one example.

Among the features you can expect from the Smart Bulb are a party mode (where brightness and blinking adjusts to the beat of your music) and a security mode (which switches your lights on and off while you’re away from the house). You can also get your bulbs to blink when you have an incoming call, and turn on slowly to wake you up. The Smart Bulb will go on sale in LG's native South Korea in the coming days, priced at 35,000 won (£19).