London, March 10 (IANS): Ever heard of a kettle controlled by an smartphone app? Well, here's one.

Robert Hill, 29, and Richard Hill, 31, who designed and built the kettle, have already been granted a patent in England for "Appkettle", which uses the latest technology to create the perfect beverage.

"A truly smart home, app-controlled product should offer a natural extension of use and convenience to the user, more functional benefits, and allow all users a visual connection to it," said Robert.

The current prototype is controlled via wi-fi using a free smartphone app which allows multiple users to connect to the kettle anywhere in the home or office, saving time and energy consumption in the process.

Its features include variable temperature control and smart scheduling which uses real-time temperature and water volume information from the kettle to heat and cool drinks at a time convenient for the user.

There's even a baby bottle preparation function that allows the user to schedule the kettle to boil and cool down in advance of a baby's feed.

Both Robert and Richard graduated in engineering from the Loughborough University in Britain in 2006.

Looking ahead, the duo has plans to develop further exciting new products such as tea and coffee makers that are simple to use and which connect with other products.