Eve Systems, a smart home company previously exclusive to Apple's ecosystem, has finally launched its Android app, marking a significant expansion of its platform. The Eve for Matter app, available on the Google Play Store, allows Android users to access custom features of Eve's devices that aren't supported by the Matter smart home standard.

However, the app's initial launch is limited, only supporting the Eve Thermo, a Matter-over-Thread smart radiator valve designed for European homes, and exclusively working with Google Home. This means that Android users will only be able to access the app's features with this specific device and platform combination.

The Eve Thermo, priced at 79.99 Euros, is a smart radiator valve that comes with Matter-over-Thread capabilities pre-installed. While the earlier version of the device can be upgraded to support Matter and Thread, the new version has these features built-in. According to Lars Felber, director of PR at Eve Systems, the company plans to "continuously expand support for other Eve devices and platforms" in the future.

The lack of an Android app for Eve products until now was due to the company's commitment to privacy and its decision to avoid cloud-to-cloud connections or requiring users to sign up for an account. However, the advent of the Matter smart home standard and its option for local control has enabled Eve to branch out and work with other platforms while maintaining its core values.

The new Eve app allows users to add the Eve Thermo to Google Home through Matter and control it on that platform, as well as share it with any other Matter-compatible platform. Additionally, the app provides access to features such as creating and managing autonomous on-device schedules, which are not available through the Matter standard alone.

Currently, Android users can add any of Eve's other Matter devices, such as the Eve Energy smart plug and Eve Motion blinds, to compatible platforms, including Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings. However, until Eve adds support for more devices, Android users will be limited to the basic capabilities of these devices in Matter.

In contrast, Apple Home users can access all of Eve's innovative features, including in-depth energy data for smart plugs and adaptive shading for smart shades, through the Eve for Matter & HomeKit iOS app. The Android app's limited support is due to its development on the Google Home APIs released earlier this year, which enabled Eve to "turbo-charge the development of Eve for Android."

Eve CEO Jerome Gackel stated that support for additional platforms, including Amazon Alexa and Samsung SmartThings, is coming in future versions of the app. The company's expansion into the Android ecosystem marks a significant shift in its strategy, as it looks to provide its innovative smart home solutions to a broader range of users.

The Matter smart home standard, developed by Apple, Amazon, Google, and Samsung, among others, is designed to provide a common language for connected devices to communicate locally in the home without relying on a cloud connection. It is built to be secure, private, easy to set up, and widely compatible, supporting most major device types in the home.

With the launch of its Android app, Eve Systems is taking a significant step towards expanding its reach and providing its innovative smart home solutions to a broader range of users. While the app's initial limitations may be a disappointment to some, the company's commitment to continuously expanding its support and features is a promising sign for the future of smart home technology.