Why We Like Matter
Smart homes have long been fragmented. One app for the lights. Another for the heating. A third for the sensors. Every manufacturer with its own system, its own app, its own logic. Keeping everything together has been difficult — and that has been one of the biggest reasons why smart homes haven't truly taken off.
Matter changes that. Here's what it is, why we like it, and what it means for you as a Telldus customer.
What is Matter?
Matter is a common standard for smart home devices — developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), formerly the Zigbee Alliance. It is supported by a broad alliance that includes Apple, Google, Amazon, IKEA, Samsung, and many others. It was officially launched in 2022 and has grown steadily since then.
The idea is simple: a Matter-certified device should work with all hubs and apps that support Matter. Regardless of who manufactured it. You buy a Matter lamp, plug it in, and it works — whether you have a Telldus hub, an Apple HomePod, or a Google Nest setup.
A little tech — what Matter actually is
To understand why Matter is special, it helps to know how smart home protocols work.
Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Bluetooth are complete protocols. They have their own radio that sends signals on specific frequencies (Zigbee at 2.4 GHz, Z-Wave at around 868 MHz in Europe), and they also define how devices communicate with each other. Everything from bottom to top, in the same package.
Matter works differently. Matter has no dedicated radio. Instead, Matter is an application layer — a common language that sits on top of existing networks. This means that Matter devices can communicate over Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Thread (a mesh network similar to Zigbee but based on IP).
An analogy: think of a car. Zigbee and Z-Wave are like a complete car — engine, wheels, steering wheel, and everything in one. Matter is like standardized pedals and steering wheels that can be fitted to any car. The car still moves with its own engine, but you, as the driver, experience the same way of controlling it regardless of which car you are in.
That's why Matter can connect worlds that were previously separated. It's not about a new radio, but about a common way to communicate.
Why do we like it?
Because it matches how we think.
Since its inception in 2005, Telldus has been built on the principle of freedom. You should be able to choose the devices you want, not just the ones that happen to fit your particular hub. You should be able to combine manufacturers. You shouldn't have to start over when you change or expand.
This has been difficult to achieve in practice — because each manufacturer has its own protocols, its own certifications, its own solutions. Matter is the first time the industry as a whole has rallied around the same idea.
No vendor lock-in. Mix 'n match.
How does Hub 2 support Matter?
Hub 2 is our first hub to support Matter. It does so in two ways:
Matter over Thread. Thread is a mesh network built for smart home devices — energy-efficient, secure, and reliable. It runs on the same frequency as Zigbee (2.4 GHz) but is based on IP, making it a natural partner for Matter. Hub 2 has a built-in Thread border router, which means Thread devices can connect directly to the hub without additional hardware.
Matter over Wi-Fi. For Matter devices that connect via your regular Wi-Fi network. Hub 2 handles them in the same way — all in the same app.
And together with Zigbee and Bluetooth, which Hub 2 also supports, it means you have three of the most important protocols in modern smart homes in one place.
What it means for you
Specifically, Matter means you have more choices. More manufacturers. More devices that actually work together. And that your setup can grow over time without you having to rebuild from scratch.
For someone starting today, that's huge. For someone who already has a smart home setup, it's a bridge forward.