The Belkin WeMo Switch is home automation made simple and relatively inexpensive. It may be a smart home 101 accessory, but the despite its simplicity the WeMo offers some sophisticated capability. With the WeMo and the free companion app, you can turn on a lamp for example using an iOS device (running iOS 5.0 or higher) from the other side of the house or even from out of town.

After opening our test unit from Verizon ($49.97), I had it running in under three minutes. Set up is a breeze. Plug the WeMo Switch into a regular outlet and install the free WeMo app on your iOS device. Via the Wi-Fi settings you connect to the WeMo network and launch the app. That's it.

After set up, you can switch on or off any device you can plug into the WeMo from anywhere over Wi-Fi or your carrier's wireless network. A lamp is an obvious candidate, but other handy uses might be fans, heaters, or the lights on your Christmas tree.

The app lists each switch. They can be switched on and off manually in the app, and each can be individually scheduled to activate autonomously - great for a bare-bones coffee maker. There is also a physical button mounted on the module itself.

What's missing is an Android app, and why not desktop control?

Nonetheless the WeMo Switch is a cool gadget that offers a simple solution for those in need of some basic home automation.

Verizon also offers the WeMo Switch plus Motion to expand your home automation a bit further.