Recently, Amazon, Apple, Google and the Zigbee Alliance announced that they will jointly establish an open source smart home standard, which is scheduled to be released in 2021.

Project Connected Home over IP is an ambitious attempt to combine Amazon, Apple, Google and the Zigbee alliance with a unified, open source smart home platform.

Many smart home devices now use proprietary protocols, requiring the use of dedicated proxies and converters to bind them to the home network. And if built on IP, these devices may be able to connect directly with standardized network devices.

The alliance also revealed the types of smart home equipment for the project, including lighting and electrical, HVAC control, access control, safety and security, window coverings, curtains, TVs, access points, bridges, etc. Moreover, the alliance is already exploring the integration of additional consumer electronics products.