Intel, Samsung and Dell are among the leading hardware companies to form a new Internet of Things consortium to create standards so that billions of devices can connect to each other.
The Open Interconnect Consortium (OIC) will aim to deliver the specifications for free data flow between devices, regardless of the OS, device type or wireless communication technology.
The new consortium, which also includes chipmakers Broadcom and Atmel, was announced in a news release late on Monday.
Speaking to Reuters, Doug Fisher, general manager of Intel’s Software and Services Group, saidthat the framework to be developed by the new consortium would address security and other issues not adequately handled by the AllSeen group.
The potential emergence of smart household products made by manufacturers using two sets of incompatible standards would be incidental, he said.
“We’re not out to create that. We just think the industry has spoken and there’s this approach that’s needed,” Fisher said. “We’re certainly welcoming others to participate.”
The consortium will rival the Qualcomm-supported AllSeen Alliance, Lwhich last week welcomed Microsoft as its 51st member, among Sharp and others.
Apple and Google are also pursuing their own ways of interconnecting household devices. In June, Apple announced HomeKit, which will integrate control of devices like lights and thermostats.
Google’s Nest has also partnered with companies including Whirlpool Corp and light bulb maker LIFX to integrate their products with its thermostats and smoke detectors.
Roughly 212 billion devices will be connected by 2020, highlighting the need for standards in the Internet of Things.