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| Google announces support for the Matter smart home standard on Android and Nest devices |
Google announced Thursday that it has completed the initial release of the Google Nest product line and the Matter benchmark for its Android operating system.
Mater is a new interoperability standard for smart home devices and aims to provide a common language for these devices so that they can communicate with each other only at home without relying on the cloud.
The standard, which uses Wi-Fi and Thread wireless protocols, enables control of smart sensors, smart bulbs, smart plugs and switches, smart thermostats, internet-connected locks, and media devices, including televisions.
Because the Mater standard supports interoperability, any smart home device bearing the Mater logo should be able to be configured and used with any Mater-supported device on any Mater-supported platform. The plan is to start shipping Mater-enabled devices by the end of this year.
It is worth noting that Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Apple Home are great smart home platforms that support the Mater standard. Apple, Samsung, and Google have already updated their platforms to become the main consoles in home appliances, and other platforms are expected to be updated soon.
Google said in a blog post today that it has updated millions of Google Nest series smart speakers, smart displays, Wi-Fi routers, and billions of Android phones and tablets to support the Mater standard over the past few weeks.
The company added that the transition to the new standard will be completed today, noting that Android devices must run version 8.1 and above, Google Play Services must run version 22.48.14, and Google Nest devices must run the latest firmware version.
After the update, users of Android devices and the Google Home smart home app can connect Google devices to Mater-enabled devices from other companies.
Other Nest devices, including the Nest Wifi router and Nest Thermostat (2020 model), will be updated in 2023, according to Google.
The company also announced that Mater support for its iOS app will be available early next year.