Amazon brings Matter support to older Echo devices – Times of India
Amazon added Matter support to its newer Alexa-enabled Echo devices and the company also launched some of them with built-in Matter support. Now, Amazon is taking things forward by rolling out Matter support to older Echo devices. The latest update to Echo devices makes second-generation Echo, Echo Dot and Echo Plus into Matter controllers, according to Engadget’s report.
In addition, the newer Echo devices can act as a Thread router for smart home devices that allows users to connect to Matter-capable Thread devices without using Android or iOS devices to set up Matter-enabled smart home devices.
Apart from these, the Matter over Thread update also brings support for a range of Eve hardware. The company also plans to add support for more Eve devices in May.
How it will make things easier for users
Matter is a new smart home protocol that breaks the platform barrier between smart home devices making it easier to connect Matter-enabled smart home devices to any Matter-enabled hub. Adding support to older Echo devices, Amazon is making their older devices relevant in the modern era and users won’t have to switch to newer Alexa devices to connect new smart home devices.
Matter was first announced in October last year and basically it is a generic connectivity standard that works with all the hubs, smart speakers, etc irrespective of the platform. For instance, the Apple HomePod will be able to connect the smart home devices that don’t even support Apple HomeKit or Apple ecosystem via Matter. The same applies to other devices as well.
In addition, the newer Echo devices can act as a Thread router for smart home devices that allows users to connect to Matter-capable Thread devices without using Android or iOS devices to set up Matter-enabled smart home devices.
Apart from these, the Matter over Thread update also brings support for a range of Eve hardware. The company also plans to add support for more Eve devices in May.
How it will make things easier for users
Matter is a new smart home protocol that breaks the platform barrier between smart home devices making it easier to connect Matter-enabled smart home devices to any Matter-enabled hub. Adding support to older Echo devices, Amazon is making their older devices relevant in the modern era and users won’t have to switch to newer Alexa devices to connect new smart home devices.
Matter was first announced in October last year and basically it is a generic connectivity standard that works with all the hubs, smart speakers, etc irrespective of the platform. For instance, the Apple HomePod will be able to connect the smart home devices that don’t even support Apple HomeKit or Apple ecosystem via Matter. The same applies to other devices as well.