Matter: The New IoT Standard from the Former Zigbee Alliance
The Connectivity Standards Alliance, formerly the Zigbee Alliance, has a new Internet of Things (IoT) standard that security dealers should be aware of. It’s called Matter and it has the backing of tech giants Amazon, Apple, Google and Comcast, and dozens of other companies, including security equipment developers Assa Abloy, Resideo, Qorvo, Schlage and others.
The standard – previously known as Project CHIP -- is IP-based and is designed to address reliability, security and interoperability for IoT devices, including those used in commercial settings as well as smart home devices. Some products supporting the standard are expected to be certified before the end of the year.
The Matter Standard
Matter is more than just a standard, according to the Connectivity Standards Alliance; it also offers an open-source reference implementation for equipment developers. The goal is to enable products to come to market more quickly, to reduce reliance on “single-vendor stacks,” and to enhance security. Developers will be able to access multiple use cases to test against.
Matter-certified devices will run on existing networking technologies such as Ethernet (802.3), Wi-Fi (802.11), Thread (802.15.4) and Bluetooth Low Energy.
Why is the new standard called “Matter”?
“The name was selected for its foundational nature,” the Connectivity Standards Alliance said in May, when the alliance announced that a working group had approved the Matter base specification. “Matter is a building block for life, and now also for the IoT.”
The Matter standard has a triangular logo aimed at enabling purchasers to easily confirm whether a product is Matter-certified. The logo was developed in partnership with brand consultancy Interbrand.
SES is a full-service security hardware distributor that carries a full line of commercial and residential security equipment, as well as smart home devices. We have 13 fully stocked branches across the U.S. and a dedicated team of account representatives ready to assist you with all your security, smart home and other electronic equipment needs.
We look forward to carrying Matter-certified devices as they become available and to answering your questions about the new standard.