IoT
4 min read
Jan 4, 2023
The Matter is the communication standard for Smart Home.
Background
Initially, it was named Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP).
Announced on 18 December 2019, Chip aims to reduce fragmentation across different vendors, and achieve interoperability among smart home devices and Internet of things (IoT) platforms from various providers.
In May 2021, the Zigbee Alliance changed its name to the Connectivity Standards Alliance and rebranded Project Chip to Matter.
It had been promoted past several years due to considerable ecosystem players, including Apple, Google, Samsung, IKEA, Signify, and more.
What іs the reason of finding a single standard?
The reason is a mishmash of incompatible brands and devices. Hubs, communication protocols, and smart assistants operate only within their unique ecosystems. This "walled garden" limitation forces consumers to surround themselves with devices that work only within a singular ecosystem or face compatibility issues.
IP BASED
The standard is based on Internet Protocol (IP) and works through one or several compatible border routers, which avoids using multiple proprietary hubs.
Matter makes it easier for device manufacturers to build devices that are compatible with smart home and voice services such as Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, Google’s Assistant, and others. The first specification release of the Matter protocol will run on Wi-Fi and Thread network layers and use Bluetooth Low Energy for commissioning.
Connectivity
Most smart home brands have promised support for Matter. The list includes Amazon, Apple, Aqara (Lumi), Arlo Technologies, Belkin Wemo, Comcast, Eve Systems, Ikea, GE Lighting, Google, Infineon, Leedarson, LG Electronics, Mui Lab, Nanoleaf, Nordic Semiconductor, NXP Semiconductors, Philips Hue, Qorvo, Samsung SmartThings, Schlage (Allegion), Sengled, Texas Instruments, Tuya Smart, Universal Electronics, and Veea.
Samsung has also been active in bringing Matter to life. They launched Matter functionality via its SmartThings hubs and Android app. Matter devices are managed by one app instead of multiple apps from different device manufacturers.
Philips Hue announced that its Hue Bridge, a smart lighting hub, is Matter certified. The company has promised to make all but two of its new and existing smart lights and accessories compatible with Matter via a software update to the Hue Bridge in the first quarter of 2023. The two exceptions are the Hue Play HDMI sync box and the dial of the Hue Tap Dial Switch, both are not supported by the current version of Matter.
What CSA ( Connectivity Standards alliance) brings:
For consumers:
- Simple process of selecting smart home devices;
- No need to worry about compatibility even if devices are from disparate ecosystems;
- More choice and a much more comprehensive selection to build a perfect smart home.
For retailers:
- No need to seek out products from only individual ecosystems;
- As a result, more potential customers and more profit.
For manufacturers:
- Matter promises more innovation and less time to market;
- The open-source nature of the standard's internet protocol focuses on streamlining the development of products. As a result, more compatible devices.
Forecast for Matter
Matter is still in development. It is also difficult to speculate on the impact of the standard in the future.
Therefore for now all above mentioned can be considered as predictions.
However, as such Big Fishes as Apple, Google, and Amazon are in the game, the probability that it can come true is rather high.
