Matter is the new smart home interoperability standard that allows devices to communicate regardless of manufacturer or ecosystem. With powerful backers including Google, Amazon and Apple, Matter promises to unify the fragmented IoT landscape. Now, Bluetooth is poised to play an integral role within this new connectivity protocol.
Bluetooth has been working closely with the Matter consortium over the past year to integrate the ubiquitous wireless standard into the fabric of Matter. Bluetooth provides several capabilities perfectly matched to the needs of Matter-enabled devices.
For one, Bluetooth mesh networking offers whole-home coverage for wireless communications between nodes. Low-energy Bluetooth mesh networks can transmit signals throughout a home without needing central Wi-Fi. This allows Matter devices to interoperate by forming self-organizing meshes.
Bluetooth also enables direct peer-to-peer connectivity between devices. Matter gadgets can leverage Bluetooth to discover and communicate with each other independently without a central hub. This facilitates seamless local interactions regardless of internet connectivity.
Additionally, Bluetooth provides a trusted standard for over-the-air firmware updates. Using Bluetooth connections, Matter devices can securely receive critical software patches and upgrades to fix bugs or add features. Keeping IoT devices updated via Bluetooth helps keep whole Matter networks safe.
Finally, Bluetooth allows Matter to leverage the billions of existing Bluetooth-enabled devices such as smartphones. Integrating Matter with Bluetooth provides a ready pathway for Android and iOS apps to interact locally with Matter gadgets like lights, locks and appliances.
Earlier this year, the Matter Working Group approved several Bluetooth radio profiles for inclusion in Matter 1.0. These include generic attribute profile, generic access profile and more. The Bluetooth SIG also created a new Matter Adopter member tier just for integrating Bluetooth with Matter implementations.
Many Matter supporters are already touting Bluetooth connectivity as a key feature. Amazon announced Bluetooth LE support on its Echo smart speakers to enable proximity detection. Google highlighted Bluetooth in its Matter developer tools for direct peer-to-peer communication. Clearly, Bluetooth will be foundational for Matter ecosystems.
Looking ahead, the synergies between Bluetooth and Matter will only grow. More complex device interactions, advanced Bluetooth mesh networks and expanded device certification are all on the roadmap. By converging two of the most widely adopted standards in IoT, Matter and Bluetooth aim to provide the best of both worlds for developers and consumers alike. The result promises to be the seamless smart home experience users have long awaited.
