Microsoft has partnered up with Qualcomm and other companies to establish standardized ways for connected household objects (such as light bulbs and thermostats – the "Internet of Things") to communicate with one another. The move will see Microsoft working with other tech companies to bring about standards and make integrating said products an easier endeavour for consumers. The company joins around 50 others in the standards consortium called Allseen Alliance and will help develop AllJoyn, the connection standard led by Qualcomm.
Rival chipmakers who compete against Qualcomm are expected to launch a rival consortium as early as next week. It's an interesting development since said standards offered by Qualcomm's band of tech companies would ensure the lives of consumers can be enjoyed with slightly less stress from picking and choosing between brands, products and platforms. Such advancements could make new functionality possible, like flashing living room LED light bulbs red when food is detected to be burning in the kitchen or in the colours of a football team when a goal is scored playing FIFA 14 on the Xbox One.
It's still early days and we're sure some companies are holding off to see how competing standards come to market (think the battle between Betamax and VHS). Who would you back?
Source: Reuters
