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Why Matter will matter in 2024
By Kevin Wirick, VP, CommScope Sentry
Matter is the physical substance that makes up our reality.
It's everywhere and makes up everything.
In the coming months, Matter-that is, the unified
specification for managing and securing internet of things (IoT) devices-will
soon live up to its namesake's ubiquity as it becomes more widely adopted as
the go-to solution for smart home technologies. Matter's importance is
discerned in the obstacles it removes from smart home tech, creating a truly
plug-and-play experience that works consistently, simply and securely, right
out of the box, for just about any conceivable smart home device, service or
application that earns the Matter logo.
With adequate promotion, stronger branding and broader
adoption, 2024 will be the year Matter really takes off and reshapes the
consumer smart home market.
What's
the matter?
Matter was developed as an open-source connectivity standard
specifically to empower smart home devices. In 2019, a collaboration between
Amazon, Apple, Google and the Zigbee Alliance (since renamed the Connectivity
Standards Alliance) was established to pursue "Project Connected Home over IP"
(CHIP). Other players became involved in CHIP along the way, including Samsung
SmartThings and Huawei. By October 2022, version 1.0 of the Matter
specification was published. Since its release, Matter has enjoyed steady
uptake in markets worldwide, most notably in North America and Europe, and
increasingly in Asia as well.
Matter has been gaining more attention-and we expect it to
break out as a brand in 2024-because it simultaneously overcomes two of the
most common consumer obstacles to broader smart home device adoption, namely a
perceived lack of simplicity and security available from smart home upgrades.
Simplicity
matters
There exists a perception that IoT devices come with
difficult or complex management, and it's not an unfair perception. From
washing machines to doorbells to smart thermostats, it seems like every IoT
installation means another proprietary app to install on your phone. Some of
them will work with some combination of existing smart home platforms like
Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, Samsung SmartThings; almost as often, they
don't integrate at all and must be used as a standalone app buried in a folder
full of similar apps on a phone, which takes a lot of the convenience out of
owning such devices.
With Matter as the established connectivity standard,
homeowners can forget about keeping track of apps. Right out of the box, a
Matter-compliant, Matter-branded device will feature a QR code that the owner
can scan to add that device, instantly and effortlessly, to the home's
network-with no configuration headaches or compatibility issues. The Matter
label is becoming an increasingly recognized guarantee of simple, almost
zero-touch installation. In simpler terms, Matter simply eliminates the IT from
smart home deployments. As more and more devices become Matter compliant, this
easy setup will become more universal.
Security
matters
Another well-publicized challenge facing greater smart home
tech adoption is the homeowner's concern over device security, and until now,
that concern is absolutely warranted. There is no shortage of horror stories
out there about how an unsecured (or under secured) IoT device provided an
opportunity for a bad actor to gain access to the network behind that device.
From hijacking
an IoT baby monitor to harass a family to exploiting
a weakness in a casino's aquarium thermostat to steal 10 gigabytes of
sensitive data (yes, really!) it seems like there's no end to the creativity of
bad actors-or the number of ways IoT devices could invite them into your
network.
Like the proprietary apps previously bundled with IoT
devices, there all too often exists a proprietary security solution as well.
With so many different manufacturers of these devices and the difficulty
consumers face in vetting their security measures, the result is a hodge-podge
of standalone security that may or may not be adequate.
Matter solves this concern because it defines and
standardizes the rigorous process of using public key infrastructure (PKI) to
govern the issuing of security certificates and secure end-to-end connections.
This universal approach ensures that all connected devices
will benefit because they'll need to be fully Matter-compliant to communicate
with other devices on the network. Secure silicon combines with CSA-sanctioned
security services to validate the device identity before it can connect to
other Matter devices. While this robust security can add complexity to
developing a new device, that complexity can be more than offset by the fact
that it relieves manufacturers from also developing and supporting in-house
security protocols and proprietary apps to support them. By working with a product
attestation partner to manage their product credentialing, manufacturers can
focus on making great devices-and their customers can focus on enjoying a more
relaxing and stress-free smart home experience because this entire process is
totally transparent to consumers, who know that they have taken a big step
towards a simplified smart home when they see the Matter logo on their smart
home devices.
How do manufacturers earn the Matter logo?
Many manufacturers are creating Matter-compliant products by
following four straightforward steps.
First, they join CSA to register their company and their products. Second, they use the CSA open-source software
to integrate Matter functionality into their products. Third, after they have developed engineering
prototypes, they get Matter interoperability certified through a CSA-sanctioned
lab. And fourth, to ramp-up production, they
work with a CSA-approved Matter Certificate Authority to provide security
credentials for products as they are manufactured.
The year
Matter breaks out
All these benefits position Matter as the foundation of a
simpler, more secure smart home. All that remains right now is evangelizing the
market and building the value of its brand-and that's what we expect to see
happen in 2024. The Matter logo will become a much more bankable property as
awareness increases and adoption accelerates. The most recent specification,
version 1.2, was released at the end of October 2023. It added nine new types
of supported devices (mostly household appliances and sensors) and took it one
step closer to truly universal connectivity for smart home devices. That's a
lot of new products that will feature that Matter logo, building buzz and
entrenching it as part of the smart home landscape.
Matter is already integrated into a number of popular smart
home platforms. Google
Home integrated it shortly after its 2022 release, Samsung
made it part of their SmartThings platform at the beginning of 2023 and Alexa
incorporated it into its 4th-generation devices in the following
spring. Apple included
Matter in
iOS 16.1 for Apple Home. Likewise,
mobile
device-based smart home management applications are also taking advantage
of its universal simplicity and security to make the modern smart home finally
live up to its name. When installing and securing a new IoT device is quicker
and easier than filling out a warranty registration card, the value of the
Matter brand will become such a strong differentiator that it will likely own
the entire smart home ecosystem in no time at all.
An
opportunity for ISPs
Internet service providers (ISPs) already have a strong
foothold in the smart home market and rely on their ability to provide a
simplified, streamlined experience to upsell smart home services from routers
to security systems. With Matter integration, ISPs can open the door to
countless other smart home devices, without adding layers of complexity (or
concerns about security) for the customer. Comcast
began integrating Matter into its Xfinity platform's Wi-Fi 6E routers last year
and other ISPs are following suit now.
The reasons are clear; with a branded front-end, ISPs can
expand their customer relationships beyond the typical Wi-Fi services, monetize
broader network service offerings, capture more value and cultivate greater
loyalty.
The
breakthrough brand that can change everything
Matter's increasing visibility as a brand, including its own
logo, is certain to increase awareness among consumers and build cache as a
desirable feature on smart home products. As the clear option for simple,
secure integration of new IoT devices in smart homes, Matter as a
differentiator could well become a self-reinforcing brand presence as more
devices feature it by name, driving discussions over its universal advantages in
quick setup and secure operation of all kinds of smart home devices. Its interoperability
with the most popular smart home platforms means its applications are virtually
limitless.
The number of products and product types that integrate
Matter is growing every day and the latest release will certainly not be the
last, as the development roadmap takes Matter to every corner of the modern
connected smart home, with a branded presence on every device.
2024 will be the year that Matter really matters-and like
its namesake, it will be part of everything in every part of the home.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kevin leads the CommScope Sentry business that provides security solutions for Internet of Things (IoT) devices used by service providers, enterprises and consumers. Previously, Kevin led a business development team creating new business concepts across enterprise networks, public wireless networks and internet access networks. Kevin has also led CommScope's network management software business creating network management solutions for leading communications service providers to improve network performance and efficiency.
Earlier in his career, Kevin led the introduction of several new video technologies with CommScope predecessor companies, and has worked extensively with network management, networking and video compression technologies.
Kevin holds a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Bradley University.