MANILA, Philippines – Some big names in the tech industry – Intel, Samsung, Dell, Broadcom, Atmel, and Wind River – are teaming up to create a new industry consortium that aims to improve interoperability and define the connectivity requirements for various connected devices in the home or office that make up an Internet of Things.

Their consortium, known as the Open Interconnect Consortium (OIC), wants to make sure there’s a common framework based on industry standard technologies for wirelessly connecting objects with electronics  together.

Not only would there be specifications, but an open source implementation and certification program for wirelessly connecting devices would also be put in place.

Having a framework for the Internet of Things would allow various devices – from computers and smartphones to smart refrigerators and home automation systems – to easily share data and “talk” to one another without conflicts.

According to an OIC press release, the first OIC open source code will target “the specific requirements of smart home and office solutions. For example, the specifications could make it simple to remotely control and receive notifications from smart home appliances or enterprise devices using securely provisioned smartphones, tablets or PCs.”

Reuters adds that the OIC would be “at odds with a framework backed by Qualcomm, LG Electronics and other companies.” – Rappler.com