The Internet of Things space is crowded and growing, but companies like Apple and Alphabet could stand out in 2016, especially in the "connected home" market. "It's a crowded marketplace," said Shahid Ahmed, emerging technology and IoT practice leader at PwC, based in Chicago. "Clearly, Apple and its HomeKit is an interesting development.' HomeKit is a platform that helps a user control his or her home right from an iPhone. It was unveiled in 2014.