Berlin: From smart speakers to smart displays to routers, Google has integrated Matter, the new standard for smart home platforms, apps and devices, into many Nest devices.
Android phones and tablets are now Matter-enabled as long as they’re running at least Android 8.1 and have Play Services version 22.48.14 or higher.
Matter-enabled smart sockets, switches, door locks, sensors and lamps can be set up and controlled using the Google Home app.
Apple’s mobile operating system iOS has supported Matter since version 16.1, so it works on iPhones and iPads as well. Matter-enabled devices appear under Settings and can be controlled with the Apple Home app.
Apple and Google are co-initiators of the Matter standard. Amazon, Samsung, LG, Signify, and over 280 other companies also participate in the Connectivity Standards Alliance, the organization that developed the standards.
Matter’s goal is to end the notorious fragmentation and complexity of the smart home sector by making devices and platforms compatible with each other. Until now, consumers usually had to concentrate on one smart home provider and its components.
However, thanks to the new standard, it will be possible in the future to freely combine devices from different manufacturers. This assumes that updates for smart devices are available.
In some cases, new standards will only be supported in next-generation devices. Also, depending on the manufacturer and device, Matter’s support may initially only be available for one operating system.
So it will take some patience until more Matter-enabled devices hit the market. – dpa