The Connectivity Standards Alliance has officially inaugurated Unify, its premier public event in Austin, Texas, aimed at advancing open standards within the Internet of Things (IoT) sector.
This gathering unites companies, innovators, and Alliance Members globally, focusing on the development of secure, interoperable connectivity. As the Alliance's technologies shape the future of open standards and connected experiences, Unify plays a crucial role in propelling IoT into the next era across various domains such as homes, buildings, energy, and emerging smart environments.
Exploring the future of connected technologies
A distinguished group of visionaries, analysts, and market experts will discuss the future trajectory of IoT. Technologist Kevin Ashton, who coined the phrase "Internet of Things," will begin with a fireside chat alongside Tobin Richardson, the Alliance's President and CEO, discussing the evolution and future of IoT. Following this, prominent analysts will provide insights into market dynamics reshaping connected technologies.
A distinguished group of visionaries, analysts, and market experts will discuss the future trajectory of IoT
Notable speakers include Jennifer Kent, Ph.D. from Parks Associates, who will discuss consumer and business demands for upcoming innovations, and Bill Curtis from Moor Insights & Strategy, who will examine the impact of emerging markets on the global landscape. Additionally, discussions moderated by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge and Stacey Higginbotham from Consumer Reports will address open standards and cybersecurity, respectively. Jitesh Ubrani of IDC will explore global smart home trends, while Tech Insights’ Jack Narcotta will demystify the importance of industry certification.
Advocating for open standards
Tobin Richardson highlighted the Alliance's role in driving the open standards wave, stating, “The Alliance and its membership are at the forefront of accelerating innovation in connected things.” Alliance Board Chair Musa Unmehopa mentioned, “The collective effort displayed at Unify underscores the potential of open standards to unlock new markets and create trusted consumer experiences worldwide.”
ADT and Telink have joined the Alliance's Board of Directors, enhancing leadership in open standards and reflecting increasing demand for secure, interoperable technologies. Gilles Drieu, ADT's CTO, remarked on the importance of open standards in future security advancements. Wenjun Sheng, CEO of Telink, emphasized their commitment to developing reliable, secure technology fostering collaboration.
Innovations in global standards
Furthermore, the Alliance continues to expand its influence in the Smart Energy sector
Unify sees the introduction of advancements in open standards, with an emphasis on interoperability and security. This year, new releases of Matter and Product Security were announced. Matter 1.6 builds on previous successes, enabling more intelligent and context-aware connected environments. Product Security 1.1 addresses global IoT cybersecurity requirements, expanding its security certification program to entire IoT systems.
The launch of the Aliro protocol, designed by the Alliance, introduces secure mobile credential communications, facilitating seamless interaction with commercial and industrial access points. Furthermore, the Alliance continues to expand its influence in the Smart Energy sector, working towards optimising energy delivery systems to support sustainability goals.
Transforming IoT through open standards
At Unify, the convergence of AI and IoT into real-time intelligence and autonomous operations is explored through open standards. By assembling key organisations in connectivity, the Alliance aims to transform open standards into actionable progress in the marketplace. From consumer electronics to infrastructure, the collaboration and innovation presented at Unify promise a secure, scalable, and interoperable future.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (Alliance) officially welcomed attendees to Unify, its premier public event created to accelerate the adoption of open standards across the Internet of Things (IoT).
Taking place in Austin, Texas, Unify brings together the companies, innovators, and Alliance Members from around the world to explore the future of secure, interoperable connectivity. As Alliance technologies continue to define the future of open standards and connected experiences, Unify puts them to work, accelerating the next era of the IoT across homes, buildings, energy, and emerging smart environments. At a time of rapid transformation, the event creates a dedicated space to combine the technologies, partnerships, and shared vision shaping the future in connected living.
Redefining connected technologies
A powerhouse lineup of visionaries, analysts, and market experts will take the stage to define what lies ahead for the IoT. Kevin Ashton, the technologist who coined the term “Internet of Things,” opens with a fireside chat with Alliance President and CEO Tobin Richardson on how far the idea has come and where it goes next. A slate of influential analysts follows, delivering critical insight into the market forces redefining connected technologies.
- Jennifer Kent, Ph.D. of Parks Associates, will reveal what consumers and businesses are demanding from the next wave of innovation.
- Bill Curtis of Moor Insights & Strategy maps how emerging markets reshape the global landscape.
- Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Verge will press ecosystem leaders in a moderated discussion on the future of open standards.
- Consumer Reports’ Stacey Higginbotham leads a hard look at product and cybersecurity, while colleague Dan Wroclawski brings the leaders of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Thread, and the Alliance onto one stage—the people driving how connectivity works.
- Jitesh Ubrani from International Data Corporation (IDC) will present data and lead a conversation on global smart home trends.
- Tech Insights’ Jack Narcotta moderates a panel on what industry certification actually guarantees, and demystifies the moving parts.
- Radu Marculescu, who holds the Laura Jennings Turner Chair in Engineering and is Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, closes the event with a fireside chat about what decision-makers should do over the next 12 months and how to read the shift underway.
Open standards wave
“The Alliance and its membership are at the forefront of the open standards wave, accelerating innovation in connected things,” said Tobin Richardson, Alliance President and CEO. “We built Unify to help forge the next chapter, giving decision-makers the clarity to move fast enough to be the foundation everything else gets built on.”
“What makes Unify so significant is not only the technologies on display, but the collective effort required to bring them to life,” said Musa Unmehopa, Alliance Board Chair and Head of Wireless Standards & Regulations at Signify. “The Alliance and its Members are proving that open standards can unlock new markets, drive deployment, and create more trusted experiences for consumers worldwide.”
IoT value chain
The Alliance is proud to welcome ADT and Telink as two pivotal additions to its leadership in open standards, joining a distinguished group of executives on its Board of Directors and building out an already industry-pioneer cadre of technology innovators. With more than 900 global Members across the entire IoT value chain, the Alliance reflects the growing demand for interoperable, scalable, and secure technologies, from silicon providers and platform companies to retailers and regulators.
“As a leader in security for more than 150 years, ADT understands what it means to protect the places people care about most. We believe the future of security is built on open standards, which are essential to realising the full potential of the IoT. Joining the Connectivity Standards Alliance Board of Directors lets us bring our security expertise to help shape the next generation of interoperable, scalable technologies that consumers and businesses can trust,” said Gilles Drieu, Chief Technology Officer, ADT.
Delivering innovative solutions
“Telink has been deeply engaged in [Alliance] technology and related industries since the company’s start, continually striving to deliver innovative solutions that make connected living seamless and accessible. Upgrading our membership and joining the board is both an honor and a major milestone for us; it underscores our unwavering commitment to advancing open standards that foster collaboration across the industry.”
“By contributing to the development of global interoperable standards, we aim to empower device makers, developers, and consumers alike with technologies that are reliable, secure, and future ready. This step reflects our vision of a truly connected world where smart devices work together effortlessly, creating meaningful value for households and businesses everywhere”, said Wenjun Sheng, CEO of Telink.
Global interoperable standards
Unify is where the Alliance is launching the latest advancements in its technology portfolio – moving open standards and the industry forward on interoperability, security, and large-scale IoT deployment. This year’s event marks the latest releases of Matter and Product Security.
Building on the momentum of previous Matter releases, Matter 1.6 continues to expand the foundation for more intelligent, interoperable, and context-aware connected environments. This focused feature release enhances how devices interact across ecosystems, improves their ability to adapt to user preferences, and provides a deeper understanding of device status, offering greater visibility into the information consumers need to confidently manage their smart home experience.
Smart home experience
Additionally, in response to the growing complexity of global IoT cybersecurity requirements, the release of Product Security 1.1 is the latest evolution of its Product Security Certification Program. Designed to help manufacturers navigate increasingly fragmented regulatory landscapes, version 1.1 expands the program beyond individual devices to support complete IoT systems, including apps, gateways, and remote processes, while introducing new levels of security assurance through independent testing pathways.
Looking ahead, the Alliance is expanding its influence into new domains with its recent launch of Aliro, the new industry-standard communication protocol designed to create a secure and consistent experience for mobile credentials, allowing smartphones and wearables to act as universal keys for doors and openings. Beyond mobile credentials, Aliro lays the foundation for a new era of connected access, streamlining entry across commercial and industrial spaces.
Automate energy delivery
The Alliance continues expanding its impact in the Smart Energy sector, advancing technologies designed to optimise and automate energy delivery while supporting sustainability and decarbonisation initiatives. Through ongoing enhancements to Matter and Zigbee, and a liaison agreement with OpenADR Alliance, advancement continues toward a more connected and intelligent energy ecosystem.
Commercial and industrial IoT is where the Alliance’s influence is expanding fastest, with open standards enabling intelligent building automation and large-scale deployments across previously disconnected environments. As Matter adoption continues, it remains the foundation for this growth, simplifying development for manufacturers while increasing compatibility for consumers.
Real-world market progress
As AI and the IoT increasingly converge, Unify shows how open standards turn that convergence into real-time intelligence, predictive insights, and more autonomous operation in connected systems.
By convening the organisations shaping connectivity across the global value chain, the Alliance is helping transform open standards into tangible, real-world market progress. From consumer devices to commercial infrastructure, the collaboration and innovation featured throughout Unify will accelerate a more secure, scalable, and interoperable future for all.
