Wemo’s confused Smart Dimmer shows how hard standardizing IoT may be - Ars Technica

When the smart home compatibility standard Matter finally arrives, it promises to simplify and improve the connections and compatibility between different device brands, using Thread as its secure, low-energy backbone.

Until then, let devices like Wemo's new Smart Dimmer with Thread serve as a warning: Matter runs on Thread, but not all Thread devices will give you a Matter experience.

Those more robust devices can act as "border routers" in a Thread network, allowing more single-purpose devices like a dimmer to connect to a Thread mesh and access the Internet.

But for now, Wemo's dimmer requires either an entirely Apple-based Thread mesh or controlling it with Bluetooth (which still requires some kind of HomeKit "hub," such as an iPad).

But then, neither will Wemo's brand-new, Thread-capable Smart Dimmer: The company told The Verge that it "will bring to market new switches/dimmers that support Matter over Thread" later this year.

(Update: Cassie Pineda of Belkin tells Ars, regarding the Smart Dimmer with Thread's limited connectivity: "We launched a HomeKit-exclusive Smart Dimmer with Thread to provide our customers with a more responsive, reliable and secure smart home experience without the hassle of third-party apps. This product is a stepping stone for our customers that want the latest technology with Thread as we wait for Matter.").