Switchmate seeks to smartify your home lighting set up

Most connected light switch products require hardwired installation. Take the Belkin WeMo Light Switch . It has a simple enough setup, but you still have to replace your current light switch with Belkin's smart version.

Palo Alto, Calif. startup, Switchmate, has just launched a product of the same name on Indiegogo. Not only is it supposed to do the same thing as the Belkin WeMo Switch for less money (you can get one for $39, two for $69 or three for $99; Switchmate isn't currently available internationally), but it also claims to have a ridiculously easy installation.

Instead of that whole circuit-breaker/screwdriver/wire-intensive process, Switchmate is outfitted with magnets that are designed to snap to the screws of your existing light controller. According to Switchmate, it should work with standard one- and three-switch toggle and rocker rigs, like the styles pictured below. The three-switch applications do seem limited, though, as Switchmate units appear too large to snap to the wall mount side-by-side.

Each Switchmate is supposed to connect to your phone via Bluetooth 4.0 and relies on two AA's for an expected battery life of 8 to 12 months. Set timers to control your lights on a schedule and make changes from the Android or iOS app when you're within range. Of course, you can still interact with the hardware directly; tap Switchmate to control your lights, fans or other switch-based products manually. The team also has plans to add an optional hub to the mix so you can access your lights anywhere you have an Internet connection.

Switchmate certainly seems like a clever way to turn a light switch into a smart light switch; we've requested a review unit to see how this magnet-style system compares to a wired installation. Stay tuned for updates on that front, and in the meantime, check out Switchmate's Indiegogo campaign.