Samsung and Google using Matter to simplify syncing SmartThings and Google Home

Thanks to updates due “in the coming weeks,” owners of Samsung phones and tablets will be able to automatically import Matter-based smart home accessories from the Google Home app to SmartThings, as well as the other way around, Samsung announced on Wednesday. The Korean giant didn’t specify how those updates will be delivered, or which specific devices will be compatible.

It did explain that when using one of the apps, people will be prompted to automatically import Matter accessories first set up in the other. For end users, the advantage will be the ability to easily set up and control their smart home using either platform. By extension, that should mean support for multiple voice assistants, including Google Assistant and Samsung’s Bixby.

Samsung says this is building on the Matter standard’s “multi-admin” features. Matter, for those unfamiliar, is a newly-launched networking protocol meant to reduce friction in the smart home space by allowing compatible accessories to work across all major platforms, including also Amazon Alexa and Apple HomeKit. To date, product makers have had to develop for individual platforms, fracturing the market.

No accessories are actively using Matter yet, but companies like Amazon, Eve, and Google have promised to update existing products and support it going forward. At least some of those updates will probably be ready by the end of 2022, though platform apps need to be upgraded for Matter as well.