Google announced today, Thursday, the completion of the initial launch of the Matter standard for its Google Nest series products and the Android operating system.
Matter is a new interoperability standard for smart home devices, which aims to provide a common language that allows these devices to communicate with each other only inside the home without relying on the cloud.
The standard uses Wi-Fi and Thread wireless protocols, and in its first rollout, will allow control of smart sensors, smart bulbs, smart plugs and switches, smart thermostats, internet-connected locks, and media devices, including televisions.
Because the Matter standard supports interoperability, any smart home device bearing the Matter logo should be able to be configured and used with any Matter-compliant device, and on any Matter-compatible platform. It is scheduled to start offering devices compatible with Matter as of the end of this year.
It should be noted that Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple Home are among the large smart home platforms that will support the Mater standard. Apple, Samsung, and Google have updated their platforms to be important controllers for home appliances, and updates for other platforms are expected soon.
Google said today in a blog post that over the past few weeks it has updated millions of Google Nest series smart speakers, smart displays, and Wi-Fi routers, as well as billions of Android phones and tablets to support the Matter standard.
The company added that the transition to the new standard will be completed today, and explained that Android devices must be running version 8.1 and later with version 22.48.14 of Google Play Services, and Google Nest devices must be running the latest version of its firmware.
After the update, users of Android devices and the Google Home smart home app will be able to connect Google devices with Matter-enabled devices from any other company.
Other Nest devices, including the Nest Wifi router and Nest Thermostat (2020 model), will be updated in 2023, Google said.
The company also announced that it will bring Matter support to its iOS app early next year.
