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Matter – the new smart home standard

Matter is a connection standard for smart home devices from a range of manufacturers. It allows devices from various manufacturers to communicate with each other – and to be used as part of a smart home ecosystem. You can read about the Matter standard and how you can use Matter and Bosch Smart Home here.

What is Matter?

Matter is a connection standard for smart home devices from a range of manufacturers. It was developed by leading providers such as Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung SmartThings and the Zigbee Alliance who came together to form the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA).

The goal: to standardise and thereby simplify smart home systems. CSA came up with Matter – a free smart home communication protocol which can be used by all manufacturers on the market.

Many popular manufacturers are now working on making their smart home devices Matter-compatible (either in full or via a corresponding bridge) in order to allow varied and, above all, flexible use irrespective of the manufacturer. Bosch Smart Home is no exception here.

Matter is not a new smart home system – it is like a common language which all Matter-capable smart home devices speak, regardless of the company that manufactured them.

Accordingly, an app from one manufacturer can control the products from another manufacturer – with the functions defined internationally on a general level in the Matter standard.

The advantages of Matter

Interoperability irrespective of the manufacturer

Probably the biggest advantage of Matter is the fact that it makes smart home users largely independent of manufacturers.

Selecting products is much easier if devices work in a number of systems and can communicate with devices from other manufacturers.

Certified security & local communication

As a Bosch Smart Home customer, you are used to the very highest security standards. With Matter, nothing changes here. Matter is secure thanks to:

Encryption Matter-capable smart home devices communicate exclusively in encrypted form.
Local connection: Communication between the Matter-capable smart home devices takes place locally, i.e. not via a cloud.

Wide-ranging wireless connectivity via Thread, WLAN or bridge

Matter is not a wireless standard. It is a communication protocol (based on the Internet protocol = IP), i.e. the language that devices speak, not the medium which connects them.

Accordingly, Matter uses wireless standards (transmission protocols) which are IP-based. The following are possible:

Thread: Thread is a so-called mesh network, where the range and density of the wireless network increases with each Thread device. One advantage of Thread is its low energy consumption.
WLAN: Good old WLAN is another possible Matter wireless standard.

And what about a bridge?

Alternatively, a bridge can translate the signals in the manufacturer connection standard (e.g. Zigbee) into the Matter IP standard. In many cases, the control centre (hub or controller) of the smart home ecosystem used acts as a bridge. Sometimes, other devices from the manufacturer perform this function.

Principle

A three-part image with various Bosch Smart Home products in use

Device types currently supported

The Matter standard supports defined device types, e.g. in the categories of motion sensors, door locks, thermostats, etc.

In regular updates, the Connectivity Standard Alliance (CSA) adds and publishes additional device classes and functions to the Matter standard.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance, formerly the Zigbee Alliance, is a group of companies that maintain and publish the Zigbee and Matter standards, among others.

Split image with a Google Home device in a kitchen and a Bosch radiator thermostat II on a radiator

Control of basic functions

The Matter standard defines common basic functions for each device category, e.g. “on/off”. All Matter devices in a particular device category can then be controlled with these functions using the desired Matter smart home app.

For example, a door/window contact from one manufacturer can cover the same functions as a door/window contact from another manufacturer.

Advanced functions, such as special time programs or proprietary services, are not covered by the Matter smart home apps and can instead be used via the system providers’ own apps.

Bosch Smart Home & Matter

Bosch Smart Home products of the second generation are compatible as Matterbridge Matter via the Bosch Controller II. [+M] devices can be used both directly in Matter systems and in the Bosch Smart Home system. In the Matter system, they can then be combined with lawn mowers or robot vacuum cleaners, for example. — *Applies to all Bosch Smart Home devices of the relevant category. Radio stick (868 MHz) may be required.

Future-proof with full flexibility

Many Bosch Smart Home products work with Matter in a variety of ways. Depending on the device, the smart helpers are directly Matter-capable or can be transferred with a bridge to the Matter radio standard via a Smart Home controller II:

Maximum functionality in the Bosch Smart Home system Maximum functionality in the Bosch Smart Home system

When you use our Bosch Smart Home system smart devices, you get the most out of your system with a wide range of services, automations and pre-defined scenarios, such as automated temperature control, the “Leaving home” scenario or the full alarm system.

You benefit from an all-round worry-free system for your home: Products, software and partner integrations work together perfectly to offer a comprehensive range of functions in the areas of security, room conditions and convenience. Thanks to simple installation, the system is ready to start in a few minutes. A comprehensive package of customer and service functions complete the system.

Enhanced compatibility with Matter Bridge

Because the Smart Home controller II is automatically also a Matter Bridge, you can use many devices simultaneously in the Bosch Smart Home system and in your preferred Matter system – and thus benefit from both worlds:

Use in the Bosch Smart Home system: Control via the Bosch Smart Home apps means that you benefit from the full use of the devices and all the advantages of the Bosch Smart Home system, such as the alarm system, service offers, etc.
Use in the preferred Matter system: Control via the apps of your preferred Matter system (within the Matter functionality of each system) allows you to enjoy enhanced compatibility with third-party products and apps.

The following functions are currently defined in the Matter standard and can thus be used in any Matter Smart Home system (find out how the devices can be used in other systems by checking the app of the desired Matter Smart Home system):

Full flexibility with the [+M] product line

Devices in the [+M] product line can be integrated directly into a Matter system – i.e. without Bosch Smart Home controllers.

It is also still possible to integrate them into the Bosch Smart Home system (via a Bosch Smart Home controller). You decide how to use the device and what best suits your individual setup – even after you have purchased it. Switching between Bosch Smart Home and the preferred Matter system is possible at any time.

You are always free to choose the type of use:

In the Bosch Smart Home system with all the features and services of the Bosch Smart Home apps.
Or in the preferred Matter system with the features that are possible in the corresponding app.

At the launch our new [+M] product line, the following products will be available:

Radiator thermostat II [+M]
Door/window contact II [+M]
Smart plug compact [+M]

More products to follow.

These devices are particularly interesting for Matter fans

Smart Home Controller II

Radiator thermostat II [+M]

Door/window contact II (plus) [+M]

Relay

Room thermostat II

Room Thermostat II 230 V

Smart plug compact

Motion Detector

FAQs about Matter

Do I need new devices for Matter?

No, you do not necessarily need new devices for Matter. Many manufacturers get their smart helpers ready for Matter via a software update – Bosch Smart Home is no exception. A Bosch Smart Home controller II is still needed to use the devices in Matter Smart Home systems.

How do I know if a device is compatible with Matter?

To make Matter compatibility clear, most Matter-compatible smart home devices bear the Matter logo on the packaging.