IKEA is ramping up its smart home ambitions with the launch of a Matter-ready hub.
Many IoT standards have come and gone over the years. Most of these standards have promised interoperability to break down barriers but consumers have still ended up being left with numerous hubs to support their various products.
Matter promises to change that. The royalty-free standard was launched and introduced by Amazon, Apple, Google, Comcast, and the Zigbee Alliance. With that kind of support, it’s off to a more promising start than its predecessors.
The backing of IKEA will put the Matter smart home ecosystem in front of consumers that might not otherwise go out of their way to seek out such products.
IKEA’s new smart hub is called DIRIGERA and succeeds the Swedish brand’s existing TRÅDFRI gateway. DIRIGERA is also being launched alongside a “more user-friendly” IKEA Home app.
“With DIRIGERA and the new app, one of our focuses has been on strengthening and simplifying the onboarding process when connecting new smart products to the smart home. We have also added personalisation options, such as creating different scenes with pre-set functions of the smart products for all your different activities and moments in the home”, says Rebecca Töreman, Business Leader at IKEA of Sweden.
“Thanks to the user feedback we’ve received since launching the TRÅDFRI gateway in 2014, we can continue to merge technology with simplicity and accessibility and bring our home furnishing expertise into the future,” Töreman continues.
The pandemic made people realise the importance of creating a home that’s comfortable and makes their lives easier.
“We have seen an increasing interest in the home, particularly the smart home during the past couple of years. Digital solutions and technology have become natural ingredients in our everyday lives and now also in our homes”, says Björn Block, Business Area Manager at IKEA of Sweden.
“The smart home is an evolution of the home you already love and live in. The wide offer of smart products from IKEA is in the areas of sound, light, air purification, blinds, and many more to come in the future.”
Any existing products that have been purchased for the existing TRÅDFRI gateway can be connected to DIRIGERA. Those who aren’t yet ready to upgrade can still use the current gateway and app and will continue to receive security updates for at least three years.
DIRIGERA and the new IKEA home app are set to launch in October 2022. Remote access is due to launch in 1H 2023.
(Image Credit: IKEA)
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