The Thread Group — an industry alliance (of which Apple is a member) enabling IoT convergence, and addressing challenges around security, energy footprint, and architecture at the network layer — has announced the next iteration of its wireless networking protocol, Thread 1.3.0, now enabling Matter.
Building on previous iterations, Thread 1.3.0 is fully backward compatible. Thread’s wireless networking protocol, along with Matter, serves as the foundation for manufacturers to provide devices which seamlessly connect devices at home and in commercial building environments. The enablement of Matter devices through Thread 1.3.0 brings the full functionality of IP routing and service discovery to Thread networks which enables Matter to operate seamlessly on Thread networks.
Vividh Siddha, president of Thread Group, says this allows manufacturers to focus on innovation and less on connectivity, benefiting end users directly. Thread is a reliable, secure and ultra-low power network protocol that delivers fast response times, extended coverage and years of battery life to elevate connected experiences. As an IP-based open standard, Thread allows home automation devices such as lighting, thermostats, door locks, sensors and smart speakers to integrate into smart homes or buildings and connect directly to the cloud. According to Siddha, Thread 1.3.0, emphasized and focused on Matter, users will now experience:
- Seamless response across Matter devices: Thread 1.3.0 enables Matter devices to join users’ IP-based networks while enabling low power, long-range use cases. Matter end devices can use any certified Thread Border Router and work with all smart devices, making it easy for them to be added to a network, and allowing them to easily be joined to existing networks.
- Seamless integration into existing network infrastructure: Thread Border Routers make it simple for Thread devices to be discovered and communicate with devices outside the Thread network because they appear like any other Wi-Fi device on the network. They can be reached via IP and can discover services using mDNS. Like Wi-Fi access points, Thread Border Routers are unique as they can be built into existing devices from any company minimizing the need for additional dedicated hardware.
- Simplified in-field firmware updates: Makes it possible to quickly and automatically update firmware on Thread devices without impacting responsiveness of controls or timeliness of event delivery. Upgrading an installed device can be cumbersome; Thread 1.3.0 allows simultaneous firmware updates to all your Thread devices at the same time without sacrificing network performance.
