Meanwhile, in the IoT protocol wars
*How about a new open-source standard for all those open-source standards?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/11/google_open_sources_thread_in_bid_to_win_iot_standards_war/?mt=1463382907842
“Google has open-sourced the Thread networking protocol used in its Nest smart thermostat in an effort to win the ongoing internet of things standards war.
“OpenThread was posted on GitHub Wednesday under a BSD license and is free to anyone who wants to build the low-power mesh networking standard into smart-home products. However, any products will still need to be certified by the Thread Group and manufacturers will need to sign up as members.
“The decision comes one week before Google's I/O conference, raising the likelihood that the Chocolate Factory will use the event to push IoT-related announcements. Notably, the open sourcing of its product has yet to appear on the Thread Group's website.
“The head of the Nest platform, Greg Hu, said: "OpenThread will significantly accelerate the deployment of Thread in these devices, establishing Thread as one of the key networking technology standards for connected products in the home." He highlighted the fact that Thread is built on open standards, is an IPv6 protocol and will work with existing 802.15.4 wireless devices.
“However, the decision to go open source is belated in many respects. Google's rivals in the IoT space - the Allseen Alliance and the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF) - have already open sourced their protocols and have been slowly picking up users as more IoT products come to market.
“In Google/Thread's corner are chipmakers ARM, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments, and the Thread Group now has over 200 members with new products from Yale, Schneider, and Samsung in the pipeline. But the IoT space remains crowded and confusing.
Here we go (((You said it, Reggie)))
“OCF's IoTivity and the Allseen Alliance's AllJoyn code will be included in new products this year. What's more, in a bid to avoid being steamrolled by Google and Thread, the two groups are discussing how to work together even potentially unifying their approaches. (((That should be interesting.)))
“Then there is Apple's closed system - HomeKit - which it is still struggling to pick up traction following a decision by the tech giant to insist on its own chips being included in all smart-home products. (((Typical snob Apple silo approach, seems to work if you want to make real money.)))
“Adding to the list: Samsung’s SmartThings - which has the benefit of being closely tied in with the company's specialized IoT Artik chips and now cloud platform; LG’s SmartThinQ; and the new, unexpected entry into the market - Amazon's Alexa/Echo. which has quickly built up its own eco-system thanks to its voice-operated rather than smartphone approach. (((Alexa/Echo is the weird one. Actually kind of acts like it belongs in a house.)))
“Then there are the standards: Nest's Weave and Google's Brillo (confusingly, although Nest is a part of Google it is not planning to use Brillo in its products). There is also ZigBee, which will work with Thread, and Z-Wave, which won't. And of course Bluetooth LE.
How did we get here? (((A good question, but it’s more like how did THEY get here. Epic struggle, that’s why.)))
“Why such a huge range of conflicting standards and protocols? Several reasons.
“For one, with everyone flagging up the internet of things as the next big market, companies are not keen on being tied into others' approaches, especially if there is no clear market leader.
“Despite several years of hype, there are still relatively few smart-home products being used in the real world and so the market is wide open.
“In addition, the standards that have been around for a while, such as ZigBee and Z-Wave have some disadvantages.
“The IoT market is somewhat unique in that smart-home products need to be able to constantly communicate with one another over short distances but using very little power and without causing interference. Before the explosion in Wi-Fi, this was typically done using mesh networking and a hub.
“But people soon realized that the real value of IoT comes in people being able to introduce a whole range of different products from different manufacturers and have them communicate with one another.
“No one wants to open up their closet and see 15 different hubs from 15 different companies, all plugged into the mains and all desperately trying to communicate with their associated components dotted around the house. (((Even Stacey Higginbotham balks.))) And so the need for a common language is inherent to the market's future success. And, of course, everyone wants to be the owner of that common language….”
