Soon, you won't feel it necessary to stick strictly to smart devices from one particular company, as the likes of Apple, Google, Amazon, and more are coming together to make their home gadgets compatible with each other. These tech companies are introducing what is being called Connected Home Over IP, managed by the Zigbee Alliance, who already works with IKEA, Samsung SmartThings, and Signify, just to name a few. At the core, Connected Home Over IP is an initiative developing open smart home connectivity based on Internet Protocol (IP).

While customers will be able to take advantage of seamless connectivity, the project is likely geared more towards developers. As product development becomes streamlined, the cost for creating these gadgets and technologies will likely decrease.

At the moment, very few specifics have been given surrounding Connected Home Over IP, but expect to hear more as major developments occur.