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The Matter and Thread standards aim to facilitate seamless communication between various smart home devices, similar to what HomeKit compatibility offers. However, multiple manufacturers are claiming that this objective is not being met.

HomeKit was developed by Apple to address the issue of different smart home devices requiring different control methods and apps. With HomeKit support, a device can be controlled using Apple’s Home app and Siri. Despite Apple’s efforts, only a small percentage of smart home devices currently support HomeKit. This is where the Matter standard comes in, which is supported by most smart home companies. Matter compatibility is considered equivalent to HomeKit compatibility for practical purposes.

One of the main advantages of Thread is that it allows smart home devices to not only communicate with each other but also pass commands between devices, enhancing reliability. However, there is a challenge related to Wi-Fi coverage. In order for HomeKit or Matter commands to reach their intended devices, there needs to be sufficient Wi-Fi coverage throughout the home. Thread solves this problem by enabling Thread-compatible devices to communicate directly with each other. This creates an extended mesh network within the home, where devices closer to the router can receive commands and pass them on to devices out of reach.

The issue with Thread arises when it comes to security authentication. Both the device sending the command and the device receiving it need to verify each other’s identity. While this authentication process is defined in the HomeKit and Matter standards, the Thread Group has not established it as part of their standard. As a result, each manufacturer has to determine how to handle this authentication, which undermines the purpose of having a standard in the first place.

Collaboration between manufacturers becomes necessary to ensure interoperability. For example, Samsung’s SmartThings devices create their own Thread network instead of joining an existing one. Apple and Google also face difficulties in terms of cross-platform communication between border routers.

Currently, there is no straightforward way to merge multiple Thread networks, which means that instead of having a unified Thread-enabled mesh network, households might end up with multiple networks that cannot communicate with each other.

Manufacturers claim to be working on these challenges, but progress has been slow, even nine months after the launch of the Matter standard.

The post The Challenges with Matter, HomeKit, and Thread for Smart Home Devices appeared first on satProviders.