Apple’s new – and by the group’s standards, very affordable – Smart Speaker comes with a new hardware function that other devices from the manufacturer have so far lacked: the HomePod mini supports networking via the Internet of Things standard thread.

As Apple itself announces on its page with the technical information about the device, the hardware is compatible with Thread devices as long as these are also Apple’s Support in-house smart home standard HomeKit. Thread hardware without HomeKit remains outside accordingly.

Apple is more open to others Thread is an IP-based networking technology that can set up an energy-saving mesh in the home. It is specially designed for Internet of Things (IoT) devices and can support various application layers. Not only Apple is interested in Thread, but also Amazon, Google and other companies.

Apple itself has recently become part of the Project Connected Home over IP alliance, which aims to expand the various IoT To let flavors – in addition to Siri or HomeKit also Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa – interact better with each other.

Bluetooth, WLAN – and thread? There have been connections between Thread and Apple for a long time. The Thread Group, which drives the technology, brings together Apple engineers on its board of directors, including Stuart Cheshire, who has long been responsible for Bonjour and ZeroConf. It is unclear when the first HomeKit hardware with thread capability will come onto the market – software updates may also be sufficient here. Apple has not yet commented on the advantages of the new technology – but it could