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Matter Launch Day Event brought big news about future updates, compatible products

By Jon Bitner November 4, 2022

Matter and its accompanying certification program were announced last month, and now we’re getting our first official look at how companies will be using the new connectivity standard in their smart home lineup.

The Matter Launch Event kicked off today in Amsterdam — and it sounds like manufacturers are eager to get the tech integrated with their products. Over 190 devices are already Matter-certified or in line to get certified. The organization has also expanded to eight authorized locations for testing, which should speed up the process and get Matter into your home at an accelerated pace.

CSA

Matter’s initial launch will support lighting, electrical products, HVAC controls, window coverings, security sensors, door locks, video players, and protocol bridges. During today’s Launch Event, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) revealed several new smart home categories are being worked on, including door closures, environmental sensors, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and motion sensors.

Teams are also working on Matter support for cameras and home appliances, although these are not yet available to manufacturers.

Aside from support for new smart home categories and a general rush of excitement from manufacturers, the CSA event brought us some actual dates and specific products that will be getting Matter support. This includes 17 Echo devices in December with more to follow next year, the Nanoleaf Essentials Bulbs and Lightstrip in 2023, and three sensors from Eve Systems (Eve Energy, Eve Door and Window, Eve Motion) on December 12. Amazon also confirmed that it is collaborating with Samsung SmartThings to improve compatibility between the two ecosystems. Philips Hue Bridge is also receiving an update to Matter early in the next year.

Matter is expected to play a big role in the smart home industry, so expect to hear even more announcements as we inch closer to 2023.

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Jon Bitner is a writer covering consumer electronics, technology, and gaming. His work has been published on various websites…

Smart Home

Samsung SmartThings is the latest ecosystem to join the Matter protocol

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Matter and the convenience it would bring to smart home users has been the subject of a lot of discussion. The protocol would tear down the walled gardens that so many companies have built and allow devices to interact more easily with one another without the need to jump through hoops. Dozens of brands have already committed to the Matter protocol, including names like Nanoleaf, Schlage, Honeywell, and more. With big names like Amazon, Google, and even Apple supporting the protocol, it's a strong indication that Matter is going to make a huge impact in the smart home.

Samsung SmartThings is the latest to join the protocol. The company announced the collaboration during its Samsung Developer Conference 2021. What this means is that any SmartThings-enabled device will be able to be controlled through Matter, including televisions, smart home devices, and the Family Hub lineup of smart products. This means the SmartThings ecosystem will be able to work with other ecosystems without the need to purchase additional products.

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If you check the "Works with SmartThings" tab on the SmartThings website, you'll see 329 compatible devices listed. Today, that number has grown. Fibaro has announced integration with the Samsung SmartThings Hub, which means Fibaro's full lineup of smart home sensors is now available to SmartThings users. The Samsung SmartThings Hub is one of the most popular smart home hubs on the market today, rivaled only by Wink.

Fibaro makes devices like the "smart implant," a programmable tool that lends smart home-like capabilities to run-of-the-mill appliances. The smart implant is just one of the many devices Fibaro produces. While not all of Fibaro's devices are completely compatible yet with the SmartThings platform, the following products are:

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