'Works with Apple Home' badge will be easier for vendors to get

The "Works with Apple Home" logo will likely be on more smart home products in the future, because the Connectivity Standards Alliance's certification program is now assuming HomeKit support is available after devices pass tests for Matter.

There are multiple smart home platforms in operation, but there has been work over the years to make it easier for hardware to communicate with each other. In a new move, the CSA is aiming to make certifications for interoperability easier for device makers, and more understandable for consumers.

Announced on Monday, the CSA launched a pair of certification programs, which leverage the CSA's Interoperability Testing Facility, or Interop Lab. The intention is to streamline the certification application process and to reduce costs for software updates, while still keeping performance and interoperability standards high.

There is a change in the way devices are categorized as working with specific platforms, and to earn "Works With" certification and badges. This process usually requires not only for products to go through the CSA's certification, but also through a separate testing process for that ecosystem.

As part of the announcement, the CSA says Apple has started to accept Interop Lab test results for Matter devices, allowing them to be classed as "Works With Apple Home." The change means manufacturers no longer have to perform an Apple-specific test to get the designation, so long as they pass Matter tests.

Google and Samsung are also anticipated to undergo a similar procedure change later in 2025 for their respective Google Home and SmartThings certifications.

For consumers, the upshot is that it will mean more products will be able to include the badge for Apple Home support on their marketing and box art. This should make it a lot easier for consumers to immediately know hardware will work with their HomeKit network, without needing to remember about Matter support or doing any further research into compatibility.

New certification programs

The two certification programs announced by the CSA should make life easier for manufacturers. First, the FastTrack Recertification Program is intended to reduce the cost and complexity of recertification.

The early years of a new standard often involve manufacturers issuing software updates for reliability, scaling, additional features, and bug fixes. Each software update has to be certified, which can take time and resources.

Under the FastTrack Recertification Program, the process is simplified and Interop Lab is used as a "light touch" check to make sure updates don't degrade functionality. This should help speed up the deployment of security and bug fixes, which can in turn help protect consumers from risks.

The second launch, the Portfolio Certification Program, applies to Zigbee and Matter products. Rather than certifying multiple products individually, it's possible for a manufacturer to certify multiple portfolio products within a singe application, using a Parent Product concept.

To manufacturers, this offers greater flexibility, a reduced time-to-market, and lower costs versus the current Certification by Similarity and Product Family Certification programs. Eventually, the CSA believes the new programs could supersede the existing programs entirely.