The SmartThings ecosystem is rolling out a significant firmware update for its hubs, upgrading them to Thread 1.4 and enabling the highly anticipated credential sharing feature.
The new firmware, SmartThings Thread border routers can join existing Thread networks formed by other vendor hardware or allow other ecosystems to easily utilize the Thread network.
The core feature powering it is Credential Sharing, which was introduced in Thread 1.4 and was demonstrated by the Thread Group and Google earlier this year.
The feature addresses a major pain point for smart home users by allowing different brands of Thread border routers to securely share network information. In short, it allows users to merge multiple, separate Thread networks into a single, large, and robust mesh, preventing the network fragmentation that has plagued early adopters. With SmartThings’ support, we are a step closer to the goal.
A powerful Thread upgrade
The update, version 0.58.10, brings several powerful features from the Thread 1.4 specification, including credential sharing, Thread Radio Encapsulation Link (TREL), NAT64, and Thread Unification.
SmartThings appears to be the first of the major ecosystems to roll out the credential sharing feature to the public. It provides a simple way to share a SmartThings-managed Thread network with a third-party service, such as Google Home, using QR codes or numeric codes.
TREL support improves overall stability by enabling Thread devices to communicate over standard IP networks, while NAT64 helps expose Thread devices to public networks for secure remote access, a feature used by products like Nuki smart locks.
With the new “Thread Unification” feature, the SmartThings app can also scan for local Thread networks and merge them by utilizing credentials already stored on your phone. For example, it can pull credentials from Google Play services or HomeKit APIs after you’ve shared the network information from another app.
Blogger Vitor Gomes shared screenshots with Matter Alpha demonstrating the new process, in which he successfully added a SmartThings Thread border router to his existing Apple-managed network.
Matter Network Infrastructure Manager
The update also enables support for the Matter Network Infrastructure Manager (NIM) device category, which includes Wi-Fi access points and Thread border routers. While SmartThings first announced support for these device types at its developer conference in June, this is the first time the capability has been added to its hubs.
With this feature, users will be able to set up, manage, and share new Matter-enabled Wi-Fi access points and Thread border routers directly within the SmartThings platform. However, no such devices are available on the market just yet.
Availability
The firmware (version 0.58.10) began rolling out this week for the Samsung SmartThings Hub v2 (2015), Hub v3 (2018), and the Aeotec Smart Home Hub. Notably, the new SmartThings Hub 2 (v4) is not yet on the list. The update should appear in the SmartThings app, or it will be installed automatically.
To use the Thread Unification feature, SmartThings notes that you will need app version 1.8.37 (Android) or 1.7.37 (iOS) or higher.
Matter Alpha has reached out to Aeotec for an update on the new SmartThings Hub 2’s availability, but has not yet received a response.
(Source: SmartThings, Vitor Gomes; Image Source: SmartThings, Vitor Gomes)
