Matter Standard Inches Closer to Multi-Ecosystem Control

Matter, the smart home interoperability standard, might finally get a feature that should have been there from day one: a single shared Matter network managed by multiple ecosystems. With this feature, called Joint Fabric, smart devices added to the network will be controllable by any authorized platform - Apple Home, Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and the rest. No need to "share" your smart light between apps; set it up once, and control it everywhere. It's like your smart home is a joint bank account and your platforms of choice all have signing authority.

Joint Fabric is part of the new Matter 1.6 spec announced this week at Unify, the Conference for smart home and Internet of Things professionals. This development could potentially simplify the user experience for smart home enthusiasts who currently have to manage their devices through multiple apps.

The idea behind Joint Fabric is to allow multiple ecosystems to manage a single Matter network, eliminating the need for duplicated efforts and shared device controls. For instance, users will be able to add a smart light to their Matter network and control it through any of their preferred platforms without having to set it up multiple times.

While details about the implementation and compatibility of Joint Fabric are still emerging, this feature has the potential to significantly improve the usability and flexibility of the Matter standard. As the smart home market continues to grow, the ability to seamlessly integrate and control various devices across different platforms is becoming increasingly important.

Why this matters: The introduction of Joint Fabric in the Matter 1.6 spec could have far-reaching implications for the smart home industry. By enabling multiple ecosystems to manage a single shared network, this feature may finally bring the promised interoperability and convenience to users. For developers and businesses, this could mean a more streamlined approach to integrating their products with various platforms. For consumers, it could translate to a more cohesive and enjoyable smart home experience. However, questions remain about the adoption rate of this feature and how it will be implemented across different devices and platforms. As the smart home market continues to evolve, the success of Joint Fabric and the Matter standard will depend on its ability to deliver on its promises of simplicity, flexibility, and interoperability.