In the run-up to the annual conference of Samsung developers, the company described the characteristics of the smart house's Matter-compatible devices on smartphones and galaxy tablets: the Korean manufacturer combined its ecosystem with the Google Home series.
The interaction of Samsung SmartThings and Google Home devices is based on the multi-management function, a key part of the recently approved Matter specification, which all certified products should support. On the basis of this device, belonging to the ecosystem of one manufacturer, can function correctly and be managed by the other.
However, Samsung and Google have decided to move forward by offering a package of devices from the partner's ecosystem: for example, by opening the SmartThings application, the user will be able to add to the list all Matter-compatible devices registered and adapted by Google Home ecosystem and vice versa. Matter's basic multimedia function will be deployed on the Samsung platform in the coming weeks, and the extended integration with Google ecosystem will be added early next year. However, Matter-compatible devices from other ecosystems will have to be added alone for the time being, and if there are many smart gadgets in the house, this may become a somewhat difficult task.
Samsung also noted that, in the long run, similar agreements with developers of other popular ecosystems such as Amazon and Apple – a company that is open and happy to cooperate in the future – simply working with Google is a first and obvious step for a Korean manufacturer.
The SmartThings devices had previously been available in Google Home, but had previously been implemented through cloud-based APIs, which, among other things, required entry into accounting records in both ecosystems. With Matter, such manipulations would not be required; the devices would be able to exchange data locally and would be operated through Matter controllers. Matter's wheels would be played by the Galaxy series and some other components of the smart Samsung house, including the Family Hub refrigerators; Google also stated that Matter's controllers would be her smart columns, displays and Android telephones. However, one controller would be enough to operate the smart house.