The Matter speakers will arrive to play music and notify you when the laundry is done.
You could soon have the ability to stream music through Matter.
Matter, the standard for smart homes designed to interconnect and control smart devices, could expand its compatibility to include speakers in the near future. Chris LaPré, the Chief Technology Officer of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), which manages Matter, confirmed to a media outlet that "a new type of streaming speaker device and related controls" are being developed. Thanks to Matter, speakers could utilize inter-device communication enabled by the standard to send you alerts, such as when someone rings your doorbell, remind you when your laundry is done, or issue alarms if a smoke detector is triggered. Moreover, it would allow music to be played on any Matter-compatible speaker from any app using the same standard, regardless of the ecosystem or brand, according to Fiede Schillmoeller, CEO of Legato, the company leading the development of this specification. However, it may take some time before these benefits are seen, as there are several steps that must be resolved before integrating speakers into the standard. "It's too early to provide a timeline on when these features will be incorporated into the specification or what their full capabilities will be," LaPré noted.
Although speakers have been part of Matter since its launch as part of the multimedia device types, this section of the specification has mainly focused on televisions and video streaming devices, leaving very limited support for dedicated speakers, which only include power and volume controls. The CSA aims to add a specific type of device for streaming speakers, such as those from Sonos, Bose, and Marshall, with the goal of creating a more ambient notification system for Matter devices. LaPré mentioned, "We want smart homes to have this stream of ambient information to inform you about what’s happening, and speakers are a great tool for that."
While Matter Casting can already control media and send messages from devices like washing machines and robot vacuums to smart displays and televisions, it does not directly translate to speakers. Chris DeCenzo, a principal engineer at Amazon, explained that specific use cases need to be addressed to enable casting on smart speakers. Currently, smart speakers such as HomePods, Echo devices, and Google’s Nest speakers act as Matter controllers, meaning they connect and control Matter devices within their ecosystems, but cannot be controlled by other Matter devices or their ecosystems.
Legato, the startup behind this initiative, has founders from companies like Sonos and Apple, with extensive experience in wireless speakers and user experience. Schillmoeller stated that Legato is collaborating with CSA members who are speaker manufacturers, software developers, ecosystems, and content providers, focusing on making audio and speakers work through Matter. While specific details on how the speakers will function have not yet been shared, the team is working to handle "everything important," which would include selecting the audio source and controlling functions like volume and playback.
The possibility of controlling Matter speakers from compatible ecosystem apps such as Apple Home, Alexa, or Google Home is among the goals. Schillmoeller also hopes that speakers can be integrated into your smart home through scenes, allowing you to schedule what type of music plays when you wake up or what happens with the audio when someone rings the doorbell. Although these features are available today, they are often limited to proprietary hardware and software.
However, Matter is unlikely to enable multi-room music, a feature that will remain exclusive to each ecosystem. Additionally, it is improbable that Apple and Google will allow their speakers to be Matter device types, although Amazon might be more open to the idea, as it has implemented Matter Casting in its Prime Video service. With tech giants monopolizing the speaker market through subsidies, it seems that benefits for Matter speakers may come more from external manufacturers.
Legato has developed a software platform called LegatoXP, which promises to be capable of connecting speakers from different brands to allow multi-room music and support for multiple smart home ecosystems via Matter. This platform aims to simplify the creation of smart speakers, allowing manufacturers to license and integrate it into their existing hardware or build a smart speaker from scratch.
The LegatoXP system operates on a real-time operating system, which is lighter and more energy-efficient than current alternatives. Schillmoeller, after years of conversations with speaker manufacturers, seeks to simplify the "smart" side of the hardware, allowing them to focus on improving sound quality. With the promise of smart speakers at prices comparable to Bluetooth speakers—potentially starting from $25—home audio could be democratized, opening access to a broader market.
