Sujata Neidig, VP of Marketing for Thread Group / Director of Wireless Connectivity Marketing & Standards for NXP
The end of 2024 gives us the opportunity to reflect on the incredible progress and achievements Thread Group has made this year. With nearly 200 companies now part of our member base, we’re ending the year on a high note. From our participation in CES 2024 back in January, our 10-year anniversary in July, the release of Thread 1.4, and hosting our 23rd and 24th semi-annual Members Meeting in Toronto, Canada and Porto, Portugal respectively, this year has been filled with many important moments. We’re proud of the impact Thread is making in advancing the smart home and building industry, helping it become more robust, secure, and sustainable, and we look forward to the continued progress 2025 will bring!
This has been a standout year for Thread Group, marked by numerous milestones. We started the year off by releasing our first consumer facing video and continued the promotion and use of our Matter Channel Education Kit in collaboration with Connectivity Standards Alliance. Here are some of the key highlights from 2024.
Thread 1.4 Release: The Thread Group was pleased to formally release its Thread 1.4 specification for implementation, and open its accompanying certification program for applications. With this, members can bring powerful enhancements to new and existing wireless IoT devices, as well as advanced sensor networks, which use Thread to create secure, private mesh networks. With the Thread 1.4 update, device manufacturers can begin implementing the features and enhancements, which include credential sharing, more ubiquitous Internet connectivity, Thread over Infrastructure, network diagnostics, secure commissioning at scale, and numerous additional enhancements to robustness and scalability. Read the Thread 1.4 blog and Thread 1.4 Features white paper for more!
Thread Group’s 10-Year Anniversary: On July 15th, 2024, Thread Group celebrated its 10th anniversary. Over the past decade, Thread Group has achieved numerous milestones and made significant achievements. As we reflect on our journey, we anticipate the continued growth of our membership and expansion of Thread certified products in the years ahead. Be sure to watch our special 10th-anniversary video and explore our blog, showcasing the significant strides and achievements made over the past decade.
Industry Event Presence: 2024 started off with Thread Group’s presence at CES where we engaged with press, participated in panel sessions, and met with potential member companies to explain the benefits of Thread technology and membership. As the year went on, we continued to attend industry events such as IFA Berlin, Computex, IETF Hackathons in Vancouver and Dublin, and more. You can find us back at these industry events in 2025!
Successful Thread Group Members Meetings: Thread Group held two Members Meetings this year in Toronto, Canada and Porto, Portugal. Here, our members met to continue to shape the future of IoT through the development and adoption of Thread and also defined several use cases that will be implemented in the next version of the Thread specification. Our next Members Meeting will be held on April 15-17, 2025 in Denver, Colorado and we look forward to seeing our members there!
China Working Group Growth: In 2024, our China Marketing Working Group has gained considerable momentum. Along with their presence at the International Internet of Things Expo this year, they have also made significant strides engaging the China market on WeChat and continue to see increases in subscribers. Join Thread Group on WeChat here. As Thread Group’s VP of Marketing, I had the chance to visit China to represent Thread Group in the Connectivity Standards Alliance’s Matter Open Day panel. Here, we also held the Thread Group China luncheon to discuss key market needs.
Significant Growth in Certified Products: We are so excited to announce that Thread Group has reached a milestone of over 600 Thread Certified products and components, over double our total number from this time last year! Thread Members, including Samsung, Amazon, Zemismart, Aqara, and others, introduced Thread certified end products to the market, expanding the range of Thread-based smart home offerings. This also includes Siemens’ first KNX IoT and Thread certified device coming to market. The media and market’s response to these new products were enthusiastic, highlighting their reliability, flexibility, and efficiency! The Thread Group appeared in 779 media articles in 2024, up from 466 in 2023. A 67% increase year-over-year.
Thread Group Members Recognized
Thread Group relies on the hard work and dedication of its members. At our Members Meeting in October 2024, Thread Group recognized five individuals who have made significant contributions to various Thread Group committees and activities over the past year.
We are truly grateful to all of our members for their time and dedication in supporting our organization and helping to advance the Thread mission in the IoT industry!
Wishing you a Happy New Year
As we move into 2025, we’re eager to build on the momentum we've gained, with a continued commitment to shaping the future of IoT and promoting the widespread adoption of Thread where we live and work.
Our success is fueled by the dedication of our members, and we are deeply grateful for those who contribute their time, energy, and expertise to our collective efforts. If you’re looking to get involved—or further involved—there’s always room for you to participate.
On behalf of everyone at Thread Group, we wish you a joyful and safe holiday season and a happy new year!