Matter – the new smart home standard

Everything you need to know about the international connection 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.

Jump to the key topics:

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

Device types currently supported

The current version of the Matter standard supports device types in the following categories:

Lights
Sockets & switches
Heating & climate
Shading
Motion and opening sensors
Door locks
Media players
Controllers
Air purifiers
Household appliances (washing machines / dryers / dishwashers)

Other device classes are being added to the Matter standard on a regular basis.

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.

Matter & Bosch Smart Home

Bosch Smart Home also allows the smart helpers from Bosch to be used in other Matter smart home systems. With a software update, you are able to use your Bosch Smart Home controller II as a Matter bridge. The Bosch Smart Home devices listed below can thus be integrated into other Matter systems.

The following functions are currently defined in the Matter standard and can thus be used in any Matter smart home system*:

Motion detector
Dimmer
Radiator thermostat / Radiator thermostat II
Room thermostat / Room thermostat II
Underfloor heating room thermostat / Room thermostat II 230 V
Relay
Door/window contact / Door/window contact II / Door/window contact II plus
Smart plug / Smart plug compact

* Information on using the devices in other systems can be found in the app for your Matter smart home system.

Matter Bosch Smart Home controller — How to integrate your Bosch Smart Home devices into Matter smart home systems via the Bosch Smart Home controller.

Matter Bosch Smart Home — * Applies to all Bosch Smart Home devices of the relevant category

These devices are Matter-compatible

Smart Home controller II

Is required for using your Bosch Smart Home system and will soon function temporarily as a Matter bridge.

Smart Home controller II

Smart relay

Makes a variety of electronic systems smart, e.g. garage doors, garden watering systems etc.

Smart relay

Door/window contact II (plus)

Detects open doors & windows and thus helps to protect against break-ins and save energy.

Door/window contact II (plus)

Radiator thermostat II

The perfect introduction to the Bosch Smart Home break-in protection alarm system.

Radiator thermostat II

Room thermostat II

Ensures your desired temperature exactly where you want it.

Room thermostat II

Room thermostat II 230 V

Controls underfloor heating, gas boilers and other heating systems intelligently and efficiently.

Room thermostat II 230 V

Smart plug compact

Makes sockets (and everything that is plugged into them) smart and helps to save electricity.

Smart plug compact

Motion detector

Reliably detects movements – perfect for break-in protection or as a motion light.

Motion detector

Also applies to previous versions of the radiator thermostat, room thermostat, underfloor heating room thermostat, door/window contact and smart plug.

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.