HomeKit is the division of Apple in the creation of protocols and devices to make the home of users more and more intelligent and autonomous. Many third-party companies release HomeKit-compatible devices. Not everyone has everything from Apple. That is why we want to achieve a standard that works with all platforms. Hence the CHIP project backed by Apple that may see the light of day later this year.
HomeKit belongs to Apple. However, Amazon has its specific project just like Google. Users can use any or all of them but they are not compatible with each other, making it a hassle to have to choose. Because what we want is not always owned by the company we would like. A certain coherence and coordination is a bit missing. That is why the CHIP project was created at the end of 2019. Apple along with Amazon, Google and the Zigbee Alliance announced plans to develop a universal standard for smart home products, leveraging existing protocols like Apple's HomeKit, Amazon's Alexa, and Google's Weave.
This project aims to make it easier for device manufacturers to build gadgets compatible with a variety of smart home platforms and voice assistants, by defining a specific set of IP-based network technologies for device certification. The new open source standard will be based on Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE and Thread for device configuration and connectivity.
As published in The Verge, and thanks to an online seminar of the Zigbee Alliance, the companies participating in the project They will be able to get certified devices from the end of 2021. The standard will be available in several categories:
- Lights
- locks
- cameras
- thermostats
- coatings of windows
- TVs
- They do not forget the older devices and a platform will be created so that they are also compatible.