SmartThings is Dead

[JDRoberts]

@blueyetisoftware

That’s the point I am trying to make. By implementing the Matter standard, they are moving toward an interoperable model rather than brand lock-in. Currently, ST has special support for their appliances and devices. Once they implement Matter in those future devices, then anybody could support them (Google, Alexa, etc.). If they drop support, you can take your device elsewhere. However, if they are implemented to an industry standard, they will be much less likely to drop support at all.

Sounds Great, but it’s not going to work that way. As always, the devil is in the details.

1. The matter standard does not include appliances. At all.

2. matter support works in two directions.
   a) incoming. Devices which are matter compliant will show up in the smartthings app and can be included in smartthings routines. This is what smartthings has announced support for.
   b) outgoing. Devices will show up in other matter compliant apps, either individually or through a “matter bridge.“ SmartThings has specifically announced they are NOT going to do this: A smartthings/Aeotec hub will not be a “matter bridge.”

There are some other hubs who are going to act as a “matter bridge,“ including the Philips hue hub and the aqara hub, quite a few who have not yet announced whether they will be one way or two way integration, and SmartThings, who so far is the only one that has announced their integration will only be one way.

So what you have described would be great, it’s just not what’s going to happen.

See the following discussion thread for specific details on Matter integration for SmartThings and others: there are quite a few of us who have been following this closely.

Matter - smart home connectivity standard (formerly Project CHIP)