The term Internet of Things or IoT gets thrown around a lot these days. Most major companies that we read about every day are now focusing their resources and energies on the internet-powered devices that will soon control our homes and offices. Therefore it is imperative that these device be interoperable to ensure that users don’t have to have different solutions for different products. Some of the biggest names in the industry have now joined hands to advance interoperability for Internet of Things, these include Samsung, Intel and Dell.
These companies have formed the Open Interconnect Consortium or OIC which will primarily focus on improving interoperability as well as defining requirements for countless devices that will make up the Internet of Things. Other members of the OIC include Broadcom, Wind River and Atmel.
Analysts project that IoT devices will be widespread by 2020 so before that happens the consortium aims to make sure that they work with each other in complete harmony. The OIC is focusing on delivering a specification, a certification program and an open source implementation for wirelessly connecting devices.
More use cases will be tackled later but at first the Open Interconnect Consortium will release open source code that targets specific requirements for smart home and office environments. OIC members will contribute software and engineering resources to advance this cause.
The Consortium expects that additional member companies, which include leading appliance and device manufacturers, will join it in the coming months.