Nest and Samsung among supporters of new Thread wireless networking protocol

Nest Labs and Samsung are among the founders of the Thread Group, which will develop a new IP-based wireless networking protocol, also called Thread, that's being created specifically for the home.

Thread Group has described the features of the new IPv6 networking protocol, which has been made for 802.15.4 mesh networks. The group states. "With Thread, product developers and consumers can easily and securely connect more than 250 devices into a low-power, wireless mesh network that also includes direct Internet and cloud access for every device."

The organization claims that millions of existing 802.15.4 devices can support Thread with a simple software update with no hardware changes required. In fact, a version of Thread is already in use in some of Nest's products. Some of the other members of the Thread Group include Yale Security, Silicon Labs, Freescale Semiconductor, Big Ass Fans and ARM.

What do you think of Thread and will it gain traction among other home automation companies?

Source: Thread Group

John Callaham