New Matter updates make your smart devices truly plug-and-play

On Wednesday, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) announced Matter 1.6, which brings a number of new features and tools to the Internet of Things (IoT). 

Matter is basically CSA's smart home standard, which ensures that smart home product brands like Google Home, Apple HomeKit, and Amazon's Alexa are compatible with one another. Consumers may be unaware that Matter even exists, but it's important because it ensures they can buy any smart home devices from the brands of their choice.

Today's Matter 1.6 update is significant because it brings NFC-based Commissioning to IoT devices. As the CSA explains it, before this update, "ceiling fixtures, in-wall switches, and other installed products often [needed] to be configured before final installation due to awkward placement requirements, creating additional complexity during deployment."

However, that's no longer the case with Matter 1.6.

"In practice, this means a light bulb can be commissioned before it is screwed into a ceiling fixture, and an in-wall switch can be set up before mains power is on," CSA said in a statement. "For larger installations, multiple devices can be provisioned in advance and activated at their final locations. For end users, the experience is immediate and tactile: simply hold a phone near the device to commission it."

It will no longer be necessary to scan QR codes, enter passcodes, or go through other complicated processes to set up your smart home device. As the CSA explained, thanks to NFC-based Commissioning, users will just need to tap their smartphone near the device. 

Matter 1.6 also brings new additions called Joint Fabric and Thermostat Suggestions. With Joint Fabric, multi-user setups can be co-administered through a single shared Matter network. Thermostat Suggestions will allow users to send "time-bound suggestion tied to one of the thermostat’s supported presets." According to the CSA, "the thermostat then reacts accordingly based on preferences and current environmental conditions."

NFC-based Commissioning is easily the biggest news with this update. However, Matter 1.6 also adds other enhancements such as Security Sensor Event History, Unmounted State for Smoke and CO Alarms, and other upgrades as well.