Amazon, Apple, and Google have agreed to create an open-source standard for internet-connected home products, such as smart speakers
They’ll work with Zigbee Alliance, an association of companies working on open IoT standards, plus Samsung, Ikea, and other major players in the sector. The companies have set up a working group, called “Project Connected Home over IP” (or CHIP), which will meet, discuss, and (they hope) agree on a set of standards over the coming months.
If adopted by all the major players, this standard could kick-start adoption of smart home tech. Currently, if you want to buy IoT products for your home, you mostly have to pick one company and stick with it because products from different companies are not interoperable. For example, Google’s Home voice assistant won’t work with Amazon’s smart lightbulbs. Concerns over security have also held back adoption, as exemplified by the endless horror stories about the Ring camera and just how easy it is to hack into. An open ecosystem, better security standards, and the rollout of 5G could be a winning combination to push smart homes into the mainstream.
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