Skip to main content

The Home Connectivity Alliance wants to bring you the smart home of your dreams

The interconnected nature of smart home technology has long been the subject of discussion, especially with regard to the “walled gardens” that sprang up around different platforms. Many opinion pieces (our own included) said that the smart home would never be truly “smart” until interoperability became commonplace. Today, a number of different companies came together to announce the launch of the Home Connectivity Alliance, an organization devoted to creating interoperable appliances within the home. This announcement might pale in comparison to CES 2022 launches of a massive new TV or a nifty new robot vacuum, but it’s just as important.

The HCA is made up of American Standard Heating and Air Condition, Arcelik, The Electrolux Group, Haier, GE Appliances, Samsung Electronics, and Trane Residential. The presence of some of these companies comes as a surprise given their relatively low profile in the smart home market, but Samsung’s membership is no surprise at all. Samsung has long been a proponent of Matter, another platform pushing for interconnectivity between devices.

A wall-mount Trane Smart Thermostat Hub
Image used with permission by copyright holder

According to Yoon Ho Choi, President of the Home Connectivity Alliance and Global Head of Planning and Partnership, Home IoT Business, Samsung Electronics, said “A simple and secure connected home has been a long-standing dream for the industry, and it is time to make it a reality. Consumer homes are filled with long-life appliances and systems across multiple manufacturers. Consumers should have the flexibility to purchase and operate multiple brand appliances that work together without locking the user into a single platform. We believe that manufacturers, who truly understand their consumer needs, lead the way for building an interoperable connected home ecosystem.”

Recommended Videos

In addition to providing consumers with more choice, the HCA aims to keep data privacy first. It’s described as one of the “key pillars” of HCA’s mission. Of equal importance to data privacy is general safety. A device that has a camera or microphone should provide convenience without unwanted listening, while appliances that transmit high voltages, such as a washer or dryer, should pose no risk to the user at all. The HCA promises to prioritize consumer safety in the ever-changing landscape of the smart home.

This alliance is just one of many protocols and movements that seek to destroy the arbitrary walls established around smart home technology. In time, it will hopefully mean that your devices can update you on their status from a single app, rather than relying on a half-dozen or more different apps to control different devices.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Patrick Hearn
Patrick Hearn writes about smart home technology like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, smart light bulbs, and more. If it's a…
The Anker Solix F3800 Plus is a portable power station with enough juice to run your entire home
Anker Solix F3800 Plus in a home

After launching the Solix F3800 in 2024, Anker is back this year with the enhanced Solix F3800 Plus. Built with enough power to run all the electronics and appliances in your entire home, it looks like the ideal company to have around during emergencies and outages.

Featuring a 6,000-watt AC output to run large appliances such as washers, dryers, and air conditioners, it’ll keep your home running as intended even when the grid is unavailable. The unit offers a capacity of 3,840 watt-hours, though it can be expanded by attaching up to 12 optional battery packs for a staggering maximum capacity of 53,760 watt-hours. So no matter how much energy you need, you can scale up your power station to handle all sorts of equipment.

Read more
Google’s Gemini AI can now control your smart home devices
The Google Nest Learning Thermostat in stainless steel.

After spending a bit of time in Public Preview, Google is rolling out its Google Home extension for the Gemini app to everyone. This will allow you to control smart home devices using Gemini, including tasks like turning on smart lights, checking your smart thermostat, or adjusting the volume on your speakers.

The Google Home Extension will be rolling out over the next few weeks, and once you've made the update, any compatible devices synced to your Google account will be accessible via Gemini. If you try using commands in the Gemini app that aren’t supported, your smartphone will automatically launch the Google Home app to complete the command (such as accessing camera actions and smart lock features).

Read more
The Schlage Sense Pro only unlocks the door when you want it to
The Schlage Sense Pro on a wooden door.

When it comes to smart home technology, smart locks are some of the most convenient gadgets you can buy. They'll automatically unlock your door as you approach, making it a lot easier to get inside when your arms are full of groceries (only one trip, right?). On the other hand, they can sometimes unlock when you don't want them to — like when you're looking out the window beside the door. The Schlage Sense Pro made its debut at CES 2025, and it practically reads your mind.

OK, it can't actually read your mind, but it's a bit mind-blowing what it can do. The Sense Pro reads your approach and responds accordingly. If you walk up to the door with purpose, it will unlock — but a slow saunter won't trigger the lock. It reads your direction, speed, and movement to know whether to activate or not. Of course, it's dependent on you having your mobile device on your person.

Read more