In a move that was long awaited, Thread Group has announced a new update for its Thread wireless protocol for 2024, which will allow new Thread border routers and smart home devices from different brands, i.e., Apple, Amazon, Google, and others, to automatically join the existing network.
The new update will bring a new ‘Credential Sharing' feature that will create a single and larger Thread mesh network and will propel interoperability between devices. Matter, which is another one of the two main wireless protocols, tried to fix this problem caused by different manufacturers' smart home ecosystems.
The Credential Sharing feature will help reduce latency and improve the battery life of connected devices
In the announcement post, Thread Group says, “The Thread Group’s 2024 roadmap includes six new features and enhancements to enable developers and product makers to build for this new open, interoperable era.” The Credential Sharing feature not only solves the interoperability issue but also makes the setup experience much simpler and improves the reliability of all connected smart home devices.
These changes will also make adding a new Thread border router or Thread device to the existing network much easier to create a larger-ranging Thread network. This will help reduce latency, eliminate points of failure, and improve the battery life of smart home devices. The new Threads Credential Sharing feature will help businesses and organizations build reliable connected experiences.
While the update is exciting, Threads hasn't announced when it will be rolled out or when it will appear in Matter hardware and networks. The answer to that lies with the companies that make use of Matter and Threads in their smart home products and services.
