Google Inc. Gains A Key Ally In The Internet of Things

Qualcomm and Google take a big step towards unifying IoT communication standards.

by Leo Sun - The Motley Fool, Jul. 22, 2015 – 

Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM) recently announced that it is working with Thread Group, a Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL)-backed effort to establish a unified communication standard for Internet-connected devices. That move was surprising, since Qualcomm also leads the AllSeen Alliance, a rival consortium which aims to establish its own unified communication standard for Internet of Things devices.

The Internet of Things, or IoT, market consists of everyday objects -- like appliances, vehicles, toys, and wearables -- connected to the Internet and each other. Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) expects the number of connected devices worldwide to double from 25 billion this year to 50 billion by 2020, making it a key market for tech giants to expand into.

The communication standards dilemma

Many tech companies are fascinated with a future filled with smart homes and vehicles. Unfortunately, many smart devices don't speak the same language yet -- which means that a smart light bulb might not be able to communicate with a smart home hub.

Five industry groups are trying to unify all those standards -- the AllSeen Alliance, the Open Interconnect Consortium (OIC), the Thread Group, the Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) P2413.

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