Amazon has announced a Matter update for Alexa, updated Works with Alexa (WWA) certification requirements for Matter devices, and shared details about how Eve Systems is using Alexa to reach more customers.

“Our vision for the ambient home is one that just works with multiple devices across different technologies and brands, all working together on behalf of the customer,” said Marja Koopmans, smart home director for Amazon. “Interoperability is and always has been at that heart of Alexa. That’s why our customers have already connected over 300 million smart home devices to Alexa, making their lives more convenient, secure and fun.”

With the update, users can set up their Matter devices with iOS, including their Matter-enabled Thread devices. Second-generation Echo, Echo Plus and Echo Dot devices have been updated as Matter controllers, plus fourth-generation Echo as a Thread border router. This should let users expand their smart homes with Matter-enabled Thread devices in addition to wifi, Zigbee, Bluetooth Low Energy Mesh and Matter-enabled wifi devices.

Prior to Matter, Eve devices were limited to operating only within certain smart home systems. Now, with Alexa supporting Matter over Thread devices, Eve has the opportunity to expand as it taps into the tens of millions of Alexa customers with over 100 million Matter-enabled Echo devices already in their homes. Eve can now take advantage of programmes such as WWA and Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) to create differentiated customer experiences.

To help developers deliver experiences through their Matter devices, last autumn Amazon extended its WWA programme, and recently updated requirements to reflect its latest support of Matter.

“The WWA badge, sought out and trusted by customers, makes Eve’s products more discoverable on Amazon.com, and lets customers quickly identify that Eve devices are tested to deliver a great experience with Alexa,” said Koopmans. “Product detail pages on Amazon.com for WWA certified devices help customers understand which Echo device is best for them. By partnering with Alexa, Eve customers have a better experience from purchasing to setup and everyday use.”

Jerome Gackel, CEO of Germany-based Eve Systems, added: “I’m extremely excited about bringing our devices to Alexa customers. One of our biggest challenges being at the forefront of bringing the first Matter over Thread devices to customers’ homes is to ensure they have the right infrastructure at home to connect to our devices. With Alexa’s WWA badge and Thread support on millions of Echos already in customers’ homes, creating this seamless customer journey will be vastly accelerated.”

Frustration-Free Setup (FFS) simplifies the device setup experience for Alexa customers, allowing them to experience their devices in a few seconds after powering them on. Developers can implement FFS within their products in multiple ways. They can integrate on their own through the Matter SDK, leverage the Alexa Connect Kit, work with an IoT provider, or use pre-certified products from silicon providers such as Espressif or Silicon Labs.

“Easy setup is a key feature of any Eve product and a core value for our brand,” said Gackel. “By making the setup process even easier, we can take the Eve experience to the next level, providing our customers with a true plug-and-play experience. And, for those reasons, it was an easy decision to partner with Amazon on FFS, making it easier for our team to make this a reality for our customers.”

Eve will bring FFS to all its Matter-enabled devices, beginning with Eve Energy, Motion and Door & Window later this month. Those who opt-in for the FFS feature at check out on Amazon.com can easily add Eve devices to Alexa. Out of the box, the device will connect to the network and be ready to use right after it’s powered on.

“Our work with Eve is a great example how we are continuing to raise the bar on smart home simplicity, making the customer journey from discovery to every day use, easy and delightful, and helping our partners grow their businesses,” said Koopmans. “By achieving WWA certification for Matter devices, developers can join Eve and others such as Aqara, Cync, Leedarson, Nanoleaf, TP-Link, Sengled and Yeelight to reach more customers at scale and raise the bar on the customer experience.”