Chinese firm SwitchBot introduced a hub at last week’s CES in Las Vegas that makes Bluetooth products Matter compatible.

Hub 2 is a wifi-based Matter hub that can make SwitchBot Bluetooth products Matter compatible. After connecting to Hub 2, these Bluetooth devices can be controlled on Apple Home or other platforms via Matter. Users can also check the temperature and humidity on Apple Home using Hub 2’s thermo-hygrometer function.

SwitchBot ecosystem products work with Matter through Hub 2, with the first to come being SwitchBot Curtain in February. Curtain is a device that can be attached to most curtains so users can open or close them via an app.

A demonstration at CES showed SwitchBot Curtain being controlled on the Apple Home app over Matter. It will officially support Matter via an over-the-air (OTA) upgrade when the final certification is finished in late February.

Other SwitchBot products will be able to support Matter in sequence throughout this year.

Hub 2 is a four-in-one hub. It has a LED display that can change its brightness with a light sensor built-in. It also has two scene keys on the front to trigger scenes pre-set in the SwitchBot app. The keys can also control other SwitchBot ecosystem products, such as SwitchBot Bot and Curtain.

The infra-red control function has been strengthened, with double the coverage area of the firm’s Hub Mini.

SwitchBot is a global smart home brand, with a huge fanbase in Japan thanks to its innovative design, simple installation, ease of use and smart factor. The company has started to build its own smart home ecosystem by introducing various smart home products, including SwitchBot Bot and Curtain that are suitable for most consumers no matter their level of technical efficiency.

Bot is a device that can be attached to some rocker switches and turn them on or off to a pre-programmed schedule. It can also be attached to buttons on home appliances.