Google, Amazon and Apple have declared special alliances for more efficient connections between smart home devices. The three, along with Zigbee reportedly joined a partnership called “Project Connected Home Over IP.”
Until now, Amazon Echo, Google’s Google Home, Apple’s Home Kit, and Samsung’s Smart Sings have been available only in smart home products and systems that each developed. Therefore, if consumers wanted to purchase products to utilize Smart Home, they had to think about which company’s products would be linked to Google, Amazon, Apple or Samsung. In addition, companies that produce products have to decide which platforms to fit.
The upcoming standard development for all Google, Amazon and Apple
Despite fierce competition within the market due to this ecosystem, the alliance might slow down for a while. Due to the development of a new standard that connects all the devices.
For example, Bixby, Samsung Electronics’ AI secretary, will be able to control smart microwave ovens released on Amazon. Or to adjust Samsung Electronics’ home appliances with Apple’s Siri. It will be possible to control Apple’s home kit products with Amazon Echo and order products through Amazon Echo.
Therefore, consumer will no longer need to check if they had to use smart home when purchasing related products. As a result, consumer convenience increases.
Currently, development of joint telecommunication standards will be complete as early as the end of next year. Safety-related smart home devices will get this standard as a priority. Including fire alarm systems or carbon monoxide detectors, smart door locks, security systems and power plugs. Afterwards it is planning to apply it to products such as AI speakers and TVs.
Some point to security concerns. If these companies unify their telecommunication standards, smart home devices can be much more conveniently and in a variety of ways than they currently do. But security can relatively be weaker.
“The project is built around a shared belief that smart home devices should be secure, reliable, and seamless to use,” the companies said in a press release. “By building upon Internet Protocol (IP), the project aims to enable communication across smart home devices, mobile apps and cloud services and to define a specific set of IP-based networking technologies for device certification.”
