The smart home space is poised to get even better with the official launch of an important standard.

Matter 1.0 Launches

In a blog post, the Connectivity Standards Alliance has officially announced the release of the Matter 1.0 specification and the launch of a product certification program. The SDK and open-source reference design are also complete.

Most importantly, any alliance member with devices already deployed and with plans to update products to the Matter standard can do so after certification.

There are more than 550 alliance members including big names like Amazon, Apple, Google. Signify, SmartThings, and many more.

Matter relies on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, and Thread technology. Thread provides an energy-efficient and reliable mesh network in the home. Find out more about Thread technology and how it will improve how smart home devices communicate.

What’s Next for Matter?

Now that the standard has officially been released, expect to see a wave of compatible products and solutions.

For example, Google just today released a new Nest Pro WiFi system that is both a Thread border router and Matter hub. An upcoming update for the Google Home app will also offer a quick setup of Matter products.

Apple and Amazon are also preparing hardware and software for the Matter standard.

The initial release of matter will support a number of common smart home products like door locks, media devices like TVs, HVAC controllers, and more.

Why Matter Is Important

Matter smart home products

Anyone who is interested in smart home technology knows that the current market is segmented with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple’s HomeKit leading the way.

When shopping for smart home products, buyers have to make sure that their purchase is compatible with their choice of smart home hub.

But Matter has the potential to make that major problem a thing of the past. Matter-compatible products are designed to work with any controller that has adopted the standard.

You can see Matter in action and how it can make it easier for smart home fans.

A Big First Step

Now that the Matter standard has been released, the fun can begin. While the smart home arena won’t change overnight, it’s a good start to a more interoperable future.