Matter’s bi-annual update should make it easier to create wireless networks with the Thread protocol. Although the protocol is rarely used, Thread is supposed to allow for low-powered wireless connections within the Matter standard, but all around adoption of the technology has been lacklustre due to the complexity of set up, and the comparative ease of just using WiFi.
In an interview Nanoleaf CEO Gimmy Chu said the smart light brand prefers using WiFi for its latest products as opposed to Thread, despite being advocates for Matter. He cited the general confusion around the protocol in his reasoning.
Home Routers and Access Points (HRAP) in Matter 1.4 aims to cut through some of these issues. The new device class combines a WiFi access point like a modem, router, or set-top box, with a Thread Border Router to bring both wireless protocols together.
Matter-certified HRAPs should also help with better standardisation of credentials across local networks. When different ecosystems tried to talk to each other (Apple to Google for example), they used their own solutions to connect which hasn’t been reliable. Failures and dropouts resulted in multiple networks rather than one shared mesh network, which defeats the whole purpose of Matter to begin with.
In order for any of this to actually work, the new protocol will need to be implemented across the supporting manufacturers, and new products will need to be created. This tends to be a slow process. Apple for example still hasn’t fully integrated Matter 1.2, and only Samsung has implemented the previous Matter 1.3 protocol with SmartThings. Still, this should make devices play nicer across ecosystems.
That trend continues with the new Enhanced Multi-Admin. This should allow for new and existing devices to automatically connect to multiple ecosystems. Until now a single product would need to be individually connected to each ecosystem. So users need to go through and set it up with a Google Nest product, and again with the SmartThings enabled fridge, and then again with the Apple TV, and so on forever, and ever. Enhanced Multi-Admin should bundle these through a central user authorisation and connect across ecosystems in one go.
Other updates coming with 1.4 include more energy management standards to build on those introduced in 1.3. Solar systems, batteries, heat pumps, and water heaters will now be supported, along with improvements to EV chargers and heating controls.
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