With the launch of Android 15, Google will allow smartphones to communicate via Thread with smart devices in the home, Android Authority reports. That means your phone will be able to communicate directly with compatible smart home devices within your local network, without going through a router. However, things are not as simple as they seem. In this article, we will explain what the Thread protocol is and why this new Android feature will impact smart home ecosystems.
What is Thread?
Thread is a low-power mesh networking protocol specifically designed for the Internet of Things (IoT). Unlike Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, Thread offers several advantages for smart devices, which is why Apple and Google are making efforts to introduce support for this protocol into their mobile operating systems.
First of all, Thread is extremely energy efficient, a crucial consideration for battery-powered devices. This helps smart home tools like sensors and door locks last longer before they need a battery change.
Due to its mesh nature, Thread works like a web where gadgets talk to each other, either directly or through other devices. This means that if one gadget breaks or turns off, the network can send messages through different paths, which makes it super reliable. The network can also fix itself without help to keep things connected. This is key to having a smart home that doesn’t break down all the time.
Strong safety features are another benefit. Thread uses end-to-end encryption, makes sure devices join, and checks who’s allowed on the network to help stop hackers from getting into your smart home gadgets.
Thread works with IPv6, which provides more space for all the connected stuff in smart homes, meaning the network can handle more devices as time goes on. It also follows open rules that lots of companies use. This helps different smart home products work together better, making your setup more flexible and easier to use.
Why It’s Not That Simple
Currently, only Apple phones (the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max) are equipped with Thread, while some Android phones are expected to get the functionality with the update to Android 15.
The upcoming OS adds a Thread networking protocol that will allow compatible phones to communicate directly with Thread smart devices. However, we’re not completely removing the traditional router from the landscape.
After reading and understanding how the Thread protocol works, one might rightly ask why we still need an internet connection if devices communicate directly with each other in a mesh network. The answer is simple: for remote control, access to cloud services, firmware and security updates, integration with other platforms and services, and real-time monitoring and reporting.
Thread devices need something to act as a Border Agent Router to connect to the internet and integrate with the wireless network. A compatible Google TV or other similar device (SmartThings Hub, Google Nest Wi-Fi, Philips Hue Bridge, Nanoleaf Shapes, etc.) can fulfill this role, connecting to the traditional router and adding a supplementary device to the smart home ecosystem.
Without a Thread border router, the Thread network will still function for local communications between compatible devices. However, a border router is required to take advantage of Thread’s full functionality, including internet access, integration with other networks and devices, and advanced automation.
Smart Home Management: Connecting Products From Different Manufactures
One of the main obstacles in smart home management is the need to use each manufacturer’s proprietary apps to manage different IoT products. Matter, a connectivity standard developed by the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), and the Thread protocol are supposed to solve this problem by creating an interoperable way for smart devices to communicate with each other, regardless of manufacturer.
Matter is a royalty-free connectivity standard. It does not replace existing wireless protocols, like Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, but standardizes the way smart devices communicate with each other. So, with Matter and Thread, users will be able to connect a Matter-certified smart device to any Matter-compatible app or hub, regardless of manufacturer. The most popular are Google Home, Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, Philips Hue, Aqara and Nanoleaf.
How Will It Work on Android Phones?
Google’s getting ready to bring its Android Thread network to some devices running Android 15. The latest find gives us a peek at what’s coming, though it’s still unclear which Android phones will be the first to be equipped with Thread.
After some clever code digging, Mishaal Rahman, from Android Authority, managed to show Android 15’s Thread network support on a Pixel 8 Pro. It looks like Google is planning to put this feature in your “Connection Preferences” page under Settings > Connected devices.
The first signs show the page will say “Thread,” and you can tap on it to turn it on or off. What’s more, Google’s description of this feature reads: “Thread helps connect your smart home devices boosting efficiency and performance.”
When you turn on Thread, your Android phone (running OS 15) will join the network and be able to control your Matter smart home stuff.
Conclusion
Thread support with Android 15 shows the growing trend towards integrating advanced smart home technologies into mobile operating systems. The inclusion of Thread looks pretty good for making smart home control easier and better, as people can expect their gadgets to work faster and be simpler to set up. We’ll probably hear more about when it’s coming out and what phones it’ll work on in the next few months.
