Born with the aim of simplifying and improving the daily lives of homeowners, Matter promises to revolutionize the world of smart homes and home automation by developing the concept of a unified ecosystem that ensures interoperability between all devices, enhancing intuitiveness, usability, and security.
Matter is, in fact, one of the hottest terms at the moment and can be defined as the standard for smart homes, the result of the alliance between some of the biggest tech giants such as Apple, Microsoft, Samsung, Google, Amazon, LG, and more. Its growing importance was recently highlighted by the Internet of Things Observatory of Politecnico di Milano, which a few weeks ago presented its report on the Smart Home market both in Italy and abroad, as well as the main technological prospects.
As Antonio Capone, Scientific Director of the Internet of Things Observatory, pointed out: "In recent months, the Matter protocol has undergone substantial updates and innovations through two subsequent releases in 2023, in May and October. Thanks to the latest version, the ecosystem now includes a wide range of products, from smart speakers and thermostats to smart locks, and even large and small appliances. However, as the standard evolves, the applications and initial integration experiences from companies have not been without difficulties, and there is still much work to be done on this front."
Before discussing the developments of Matter and its central role in today's and tomorrow's smart homes and home automation, let's take a step back and revisit its history, functionality, and importance in the sector.
What is Matter: Origins and Objectives
Born in 2019 and previously known as Project CHIP (Connected Home over IP), Matter is an open and interoperable standard for communication between Internet of Things (IoT) devices. It is managed by CSA (Connectivity Standards Alliance), formerly known as the Zigbee Alliance, a consortium of leading tech companies with the goal of creating a unified ecosystem for smart home devices—making it easier for consumers to install and use IoT devices in their homes, eliminating the confusion caused by the multiple protocols and standards currently in use.
Officially launched by the end of 2022, Matter aims to ensure that devices from different manufacturers can communicate seamlessly and securely, regardless of the brand or type of device. Given the large-scale involvement and support from major tech companies worldwide, Matter will ensure complete interoperability between all devices, applications, and platforms.
It is also important to note that Matter does not replace current platforms but includes a shared system from devices and platform providers to ensure reliable communication between different devices. Globally accessible, it is an open-source protocol based on existing protocols: Thread, for low-power and low-bandwidth devices such as sensors or light bulbs; and Wi-Fi or Ethernet, for higher-bandwidth devices such as cameras or media players.
Matter’s Key Focus: Interoperability and Dependence on a Constant Internet Connection
Matter specifically aims to address two major challenges related to the spread of home automation and smart devices: interoperability between devices from different manufacturers and the reliance on a constant Internet connection.
Regarding interoperability, if a consumer buys a bulb designed to work with Amazon Alexa but instead uses Apple HomeKit, it is highly likely that they cannot fully leverage the smart functionality of the product. Matter solves this problem by using an open, royalty-free standard that is widely adopted.
And what about connectivity to the network? If IoT devices are completely dependent on an Internet connection and the cloud to operate, any connectivity issues (such as slow or no connection) could inevitably compromise their functioning. With Matter, devices do not require a constant Internet connection to operate or communicate with each other. While cloud connectivity is still necessary for remote control and service management when away from home, the dependency on it is minimized. This feature not only improves the efficiency and timeliness of device actions but also increases the overall security of the system.
How Matter Works
Matter is not a physical device but a language used by smart objects in the Smart Home. Its architecture is based on a standardized IP protocol and existing wireless network technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Thread.
Here’s how Matter works, explained simply:
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Open IP Protocol: Matter uses the Internet Protocol (IP), an open standard widely used for data communication over the Internet. This allows Matter devices to communicate with each other and with other devices on the same network, regardless of manufacturer or device type.
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Wireless Network Technologies: Matter supports several wireless network technologies, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and Thread. This allows Matter devices to connect to the local network using the technology best suited to their needs and the specifics of the home environment.
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Standardization of Services and Functions: Matter defines a set of common services and functionalities that devices must support to ensure interoperability. These include services for remote control, energy management, security, and more. This ensures that Matter devices can work together harmoniously and integrated.
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Certification of Compliance: Before being marketed as Matter devices, manufacturers must undergo a complex certification process to ensure their products meet the standards and specifications set by Matter. This exclusivity ensures that consumers can trust that the devices they purchase will work correctly and be compatible with other Matter devices.
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Integration with Control Platforms: Matter is designed to work with various control platforms, including voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This means users can control their Matter devices using voice commands or apps from their respective platforms.
Ultimately, Matter provides an open and interoperable standard for smart devices in the Smart Home, enabling them to communicate and collaborate in a convenient, efficient, and secure manner.
Practical Advantages of Matter in the Smart Home
Now that we have outlined the objectives and functionality of Matter, let’s look at the main practical advantages this protocol offers to the Smart Home:
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Interoperability: Matter guarantees interoperability between devices from different brands. This means Matter devices can communicate and collaborate regardless of the brand or ecosystem they belong to. In the past, users had to choose their devices based on the existing home ecosystem, but with this limitation overcome, they enjoy more freedom of choice and greater simplicity in device interaction.
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Independence from the Internet Connection: Matter devices can function without the need for a constant Internet connection. This not only reduces dependency on the network and related speed issues but also increases the overall security of the smart home.
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Usability: Matter facilitates an intuitive user experience, allowing users to easily control smart devices through a variety of platforms and apps. Furthermore, thanks to its interoperability, Matter simplifies the setup and integration of smart devices in the home, reducing complexity for users.
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Sustainability: Matter promotes energy efficiency and offers the possibility to control and optimize the use of home devices, thus contributing to reducing energy waste. Additionally, Matter’s software updates and backward compatibility allow existing devices to extend their useful life, reducing resource consumption associated with producing new devices.
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Security: Matter promotes strict data security standards, ensuring that users’ personal and sensitive information is protected from unauthorized access and cyber threats. Using robust authentication protocols and advanced encryption techniques, the protocol protects communications between devices and ensures the security of transactions and data exchanged.
Matter: An Exclusive Standard that Changes the Future of Home Automation and Smart Homes
Currently, only a few hundred companies worldwide have products certified by Matter, a number that is expected to increase progressively for various reasons, primarily related to the benefits this protocol brings with it.
For example, as Matter promises to solve the interoperability and connectivity issues that have slowed the adoption of Smart Homes, companies that produce smart devices will see the opportunity to meet the demands of consumers who want greater integration and ease of use. On the other hand, consumers are increasingly aware of the advantages of Smart Homes but are discouraged by the incompatibility between devices from different brands. With Matter, end users can be assured that devices from different brands will work together efficiently.
With the adoption of Matter, the future of home automation and Smart Homes will inevitably be shaped by greater interoperability and accessibility of devices, aiming to create personalized and increasingly automated home environments in which users can easily integrate a wide range of connected objects. It is easy to predict that Matter will also open the doors to further innovations in smart homes, pushing manufacturers to focus on creating even more performant, convenient, secure, and sustainable devices.
The reason is that obtaining Matter certification is not easy: the rigorous standards and compliance tests required represent a significant challenge for companies, who must ensure their devices meet all the requirements set by the consortium.
It follows that this exclusivity also contributes to ensuring a high level of quality and security for all certified devices, reflecting in greater consumer trust in the reliability and performance of products.
Freedompro and Matter: A Shared Philosophy
The Matter protocol aims to break down the barriers of monopolization in the world of home automation by ensuring interoperability between different manufacturers and devices: a goal that aligns perfectly with the philosophy of Freedompro, driving us to fully embrace these new, rigorous, and ambitious standards.
Our mission is to offer an unprecedented smart living and comfort solution through the creation of a complete ecosystem of connected products, from hubs to devices: the values that guide us (and which Matter shares) are therefore maximum integration, usability, and sustainability.
This approach is clearly reflected in our Smart Modules, Wi-Fi-connected smart relays that are fully compatible with numerous accessories (from light bulbs to roller blinds, spotlights to table lamps, and much more) and designed to easily and efficiently control any traditional electrical system. Our Smart Modules require no modification or replacement of existing components, nor do they require any invasive installation work. They ensure accurate energy consumption tracking and enable Smart Home management through a single interface: the Freedompro app, which allows control of all connected devices anywhere and at any time.
Finally, thanks to the creation of Habits—personalized automations based on the household members' needs—the Smart Home is more comfortable than ever, as geolocation alone generates scenarios aligned with daily habits.
In practice, Freedompro offers wide-ranging comfort and integration solutions, aligning with the idea of Matter for a truly smart home. As an Italian company that considers quality, sustainability, safety, and innovation as non-negotiable drivers for an offer truly in synergy with people’s needs, we are proud to be among the very few companies that have obtained Matter certification for their products.
We can't wait to officially present them to you!
