During its November 2022 launch, Matter promised to simplify a decentralized smart home landscape spanning hundreds of offerings. The open standard has continued to evolve since then and has been extended to support additional device types. Additionally, CSA is working on support for standalone smart speakers.
The Current Limitations of Matter
The matter has brought interoperability to many smart home devices, but standalone smart speakers are not supported. That means devices like Google Nest Hub, Apple HomePod, Amazon Echo, and other Things support Matter but only serve as controllers for other Matter-enabled products.
TVs and video devices like streaming catch only basic playback controls like turning the device on and off or adjusting the volume. Smart home systems do not support the typical standalone Wi-Fi speakers like Bose or Sonos speakers and can’t be seamlessly integrated into a smart home.
Integration Toward Smart Speaker
CSA’s CTO, Chris LaPré, has confirmed that the organization is actively working to fill that gap. Adding support for Wi-Fi speakers would open up new possibilities for smart homes.
It has this ambient information stream to say things about things it knows about; speakers help you hear LaPré told The Verge.
A promising development is uncertain regarding the release of the specifications timeline. Admitting it is too early to tell, LaPré said it is just a matter of when support for smart speakers will finally arrive.
The Role of Legato in Building a Future
Dutch startup Legato is leading the specification parts of the matter smart speaker support. Legato CEO Fiede Schillmoeller talked about some exciting possibilities this integration could bring.
However, users could begin to control audio sources, adjust volume, and access other playback features on any Matter-compatible app or device. It would not be brand-limited functionality and would create a truly universal experience.
Schillmoeller is also hopeful of integrating smart speakers into automation scenes. Imagine a morning routine where your favorite music plays on a Sonos speaker, smart blinds open, and the coffee maker starts brewing.
Challenges Ahead: The Role of Big Tech
Despite the maturation of Support for Matter smart speaker, the success ultimately rests with the big players, Google, Apple, and Amazon. To control other Matter-enabled devices, these companies must certify them as Matter device types to become Matter device types.
Music playback is served on HomePod with a Nest Hub—or even better—the kind of openness between those products. A Google Assistant Hub likely wouldn’t fit with their business strategy.
The Potential Impact
The sheer experience of smart speaker support in Matter would mean Mitture could integrate further across devices. Regardless of brand, control of any smart speaker within a Matter-enabled ecosystem would represent a significant leap in user-friendly convenience and smart home functionality.
Enabling interoperability for smart home devices could finally deliver on the promise of a uniform smart home experience Matter.
In the meantime, smart home enthusiasts must wait and see as Matter works towards becoming the ultimate connectivity standard.
Ethan Cole is a tech aficionado dedicated to exploring the latest innovations and gadgets, providing reviews and insights to keep you updated in the tech world.
