Current Events in December 2019

Many consumers are waking up today with the realization that they have overloaded their credit card during the holidays with a balance that will take months to pay off.

It happens. But transferring the balance to a new card with a 0 percent interest rate for the first year or so can help you pay down the balance faster and spare you the double-digit interest charges you would pay otherwise.

In its annual balance transfer card report, CompareCards.com reviewed the terms and conditions of 167 credit cards that allow balance transfers. Once again this year, the researchers found that interest-free introductory periods are still easy to find.

In searching for a card, consider one that doesn’t carry a one-time balance transfer fee. Most balance transfer cards charge a fee of at least 3 percent. On a $5,000 balance, that comes to $150.

The Chase Slate card now offers a 0 percent rate on transferred balances for 15 months. If you transfer the balance during the first 60 days the account is open, you won’t pay a balance transfer fee. If you wait until later than that you’ll pay a hefty 5 percent fee.

Common misconceptions

The researchers found that 75 percent of the consumers surveyed mistakenly believed that they would be assessed interest on the full balance if they didn’t pay it off completely during the transfer card’s introductory period. That’s not the case, although that’s exactly what happens with a merchant’s “deferred interest” plan.

With a balance transfer card, 100 percent of your payments are used to pay down the balance during the introductory period. At the end of the introductory period, the card’s prevailing rate kicks in. The rate can be as high as 25 percent for many balance transfer cards, so it’s important to pay as much of the balance as possible during the interest-free introductory period.

According to the survey, nearly 20 percent of consumers with credit cards plan to apply for a new card that will allow them to transfer a balance. Another 32 percent said they’re thinking about it.

This is a fairly common practice. About half of all credit card customers say they have opened a new credit card account just to transfer a balance and take advantage of a 0 percent interest rate. Of that number, 18 percent have done it more than once.

The experts at ConsumerAffairs have researched balance transfer credit cards with an attractive introductory promotion. You can check out their findings here. 

Earlier this week, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new oral treatment for consumers who suffer from acute migraines.

The drug, named Ubrelvy, is manufactured by Allergan and meant to be taken after symptoms of a migraine have already begun to set in. The FDA said the drug was proven to be more effective than placebos in two randomized, double-blind trials. 

“The FDA is pleased to approve a novel treatment for patients suffering from migraine and will continue to work with stakeholders to promote the development of new safe and effective migraine therapies,” said FDA director Dr. Billy Dunn.

Many participants who took Ubrelvy in the drug trials reported feeling no pain or other associated migraine symptoms after two hours. Regulators said the results are promising for treating a serious health condition that affects millions of people.

“Migraine is an often disabling condition that affects an estimated 37 million people in the U.S. Ubrevly represents an important new option for the acute treatment of migraine in adults, as it is the first drug in its class approved for this indication,” said Dunn. 

Experts have found ways for consumers to engage in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) during their day-to-day routines. That’s a great thing because the exercise regimen has been touted for its weight loss capabilities, among several other benefits. 

Now, researchers from The Physiological Society have found that consumers who want to reap the most rewards from HIIT need to prioritize the timing of their resting and active periods. 

“In order for people to get the most out of HIIT, which may be the answer to the difficulties of paying for and getting to the gym, we need to get the timing right,” said researcher Hannah Church. “Our research showed just how important this is, because we found that 30 second intervals with 120 seconds of rest meant that participants’ heart rates didn’t stay up. 120 seconds is just too long to be resting for!” 

Finding the right timing

The researchers sought to understand if all HIIT programs were created equal by testing the effectiveness of exercises with a variety of active and resting periods. 

The team tested out the difference between 60 seconds of activity and 60 second of rest versus 30 seconds of activity and 120 seconds of rest for participants who didn’t regularly exercise. Participants typically completed as many as 10 reps for the 60/60 format, whereas the program with longer rest time only required participants to do up to eight reps. 

The participants completed their HIIT workout three times a week for six weeks, at which point the researchers learned that resting for two minutes in between sets was too much rest. 

After assessing muscle and fat composition, aerobic capacity, and artery stiffness -- three factors that contribute to overall fitness -- it became clear that the timing of the reps and the time in between each set was crucial for the participants to get the most out of their workouts. 

The participants who were active for 30 seconds didn’t improve in any of the three measures, whereas those who had an even split of rest and activity improved their aerobic capacity over the course of the six weeks, meaning they were able to get oxygen to their muscles better during their workouts. 

Moving forward, the researchers encourage consumers who practice HIIT to be mindful of how long they’re resting for, as they could be missing out on crucial health benefits associated with the practice. 

Hark! The anti-robo angels sing!

While the rest of the world was being sucked into the media’s handicapping of what Congress was cooking up in the impeachment of President Trump, the Senate was actually doing something good for the consumer -- passing the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act, aka the Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act.

The Senate moved the bill forward by unanimous consent without having to resort to a roll call vote and without a single syllable of partisan posturing. All that needs to be done now is for the President to sign the bill for it to become law.

Addressing malicious robocalls

Of all the headaches consumers wish would just go away, this one was high on everyone’s wish list. Think about it -- no more calls telling you that the Social Security Administration is filing a lawsuit against you or someone saying they’re “excited to inform you that you are now eligible to qualify for a zero percent interest rate.”

“I have yet to meet someone who says they enjoy receiving those unwanted and illegal robocalls that plague our phones, whether we’re at home, at work, or in the car, which is why the TRACED Act takes several important steps in the fight to curb this scourge,” said Senator John Thune (R-SD), co-author of the bill.

Bipartisan efforts have been sorely missed on Capitol Hill lately, but when it came to a consumer issue of this magnitude, all party loyalties moved out of the way.

“The annoying and harassing robocalls we receive every day are neither a Democrat nor Republican menace; they are a universal menace,” said Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Thune’s senatorial compadre from across the aisle. Cristina Martin Firvida, Vice President of Financial Security & Consumer Affairs at AARP, agreed. 

“This bipartisan bill is an important step forward in the fight against illegal and unwanted robocalls and will help stop scams that start as robocalls and can end with older Americans losing their hard-earned savings,” Firvida told ConsumerAffairs.

What the consumer can expect

All indications are that President Trump will sign the bill without any squabble. Once his ink is dry, the bill can start proving it has the kind of muscle that the people behind the robocall scourge won’t want to tangle with. 

The details of the bill include:

• Broadening the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to levy civil penalties of up to $10,000 per call on people who intentionally violate telemarketing restrictions.

• Extending the window for the FCC to nab and take enforcement action against intentional violations up to four years after a robocall is placed. Currently, the FCC has only one year to do so, and the FCC has told the committee that “even a one-year longer statute of limitations for enforcement” would improve enforcement against violators.

• Unifying enforcement from both the federal and state governments to identify and report to Congress suggestions on how to improve the containment and criminal prosecution of robocall scammers across the board.

• Requiring voice service providers to adopt call authentication technologies, with the goal of enabling a telephone carrier to verify that incoming calls are legitimate before they reach consumers’ phones. That aspect alone is a welcome relief to consumers who rely on Caller ID. An AARP survey this year found that U.S. adults are more likely to answer a call that appears to originate from a local area code (59 percent), or an area code where friends or family live (44 percent). 

• Giving the FCC the power to initiate a rulemaking to help protect subscribers from receiving unwanted calls or texts from callers.

• Directing the FCC to initiate a rulemaking process to protect consumers from “one-ring” scams. 

• Requiring the FCC to establish a working group to issue best practices to prevent hospitals from receiving illegal robocalls -- a little-publicized nemesis that prevents real patients from getting through and interrupting vital intra-hospital communications.

Is this enough?

While the news seems like cause for celebration, at least one robo expert says that consumers shouldn’t get out the party hats and whistles quite yet.

“The bill is helpful, but it won’t cause an overnight decline in robocalls,” Alex Quilici, YouMail CEO, told ConsumerAffairs.

“The main aspects of the bill are making it harder for spoofed calls to get through by mandating carriers move to use Stir/Shaken (authenticated caller ID), and giving enforcement more tools.  That will help, but it will take time for carriers to implement Stir/Shaken to the point it really matters, and law enforcement will need time to pursue cases.”

“We would expect it will take some time (a year to eighteen months) before we see the impact – and unfortunately, the bad guys are clever, so we have to see what workarounds they come up with,” Quilici said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released an update today on the number of hospitalizations and deaths associated with EVALI.

EVALI -- or “E-cigarettes or Vaping product use Associated Lung Injury” -- was a condition coined by the agency earlier this year after a rash of mysterious hospitalizations and deaths that were linked to vaping. After extensive investigations into the issue, the CDC connected these illnesses with the presence of Vitamin E acetate in certain e-cigarette products.

As of December 17, the agency says that there have been 2,506 hospitalizations in all 50 states and the District of Columbia that are linked to EVALI. The agency has also confirmed 54 deaths to these illnesses in 27 states and the District of Columbia.

“Adults who continue to use e-cigarette, or vaping, products, should carefully monitor themselves for symptoms and see a healthcare provider immediately if they develop symptoms like those reported in this outbreak,” the CDC stated.

Increasing legal age to buy

The number of deaths and illnesses brought on by EVALI may have been a huge part of the decision by lawmakers this week to increase the minimum age for buying tobacco and e-cigarette products to 21. 

The move was broadly supported by both Republicans and Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives, and it is expected to be passed into law by the President’s signature in the near future. Lawmakers say passage of the bill will have important health implications for consumers of all ages in the U.S.

“By raising the age to buy tobacco products nationwide, we can save 223,000 lives and reduce youth tobacco use,” said Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who was one of the bill’s co-sponsors.

As climate change threats continue to loom, consumers have started taking their own measures to lessen their ecological footprints. 

Now, researchers from the University of Gothenburg have found that many consumers could be overly confident when it comes to the steps they’re taking to better the environment. According to a survey, many individuals believe that they’re practicing more sustainable habits than the average consumer. 

“The results point out our tendency to overestimate our own abilities, which is in line with previous studies where most people consider themselves to be more honest, more creative, and better drivers than others,” said researcher Magnus Bergquist. “This study shows that over-optimism, or the ‘better-than-average’ effect, also applies to environmentally friendly behaviours.” 

Understanding consumers’ mindsets

To get a sense of how consumers view their own environmentally friendly behaviors, the researchers conducted a survey of consumers from different parts of the world -- India, England, Sweden, and the United States. 

The survey required participants to report on how often they completed sustainable behaviors, including anything from opting for eco-friendly products or reducing how often they use single-use plastic. 

The researchers learned that the majority of participants rated themselves as above average citizens when it comes to caring for the environment. This was true when the participants ranked themselves against strangers and people they know in their day-to-day lives. 

This could become troubling, as the researchers worry that this overconfidence will lead consumers to scale back on the activities and actions that are benefiting the environment because they think that they’re already doing more than enough. 

Working harder

The researchers say this attitude among consumers is common for more than just environmental efforts. However, it’s important that consumers look honestly at the ways they’re being proactive about sustainability and work to be more encouraging in future efforts. 

“If you think about it logically, the majority cannot be more environmentally friendly than others,” said Bergquist. “One way to change this faulty opinion, is to inform people that others actually behave environmentally friendly, and thereby creating an environmentally friendly norm. Social norms affect us also in this area, we know this from previous studies.”  

Facebook says it will no longer use phone numbers gathered via two-factor authentication to drive its friend suggestion feature.

Reuters cites company officials as saying that the decision is driven by the desire to overhaul the platform’s privacy practices. Facebook has faced mountains of criticism over how it handles users’ data, from the Cambridge Analytica scandal to how it uses facial recognition. Other privacy headaches eventually led the Federal Trade Commission to levy a $5 billion fine against the company.

The move away from using two-factor authentication for user data purposes will reportedly start this week in five countries -- Ecuador, Ethiopia, Pakistan, Libya, and Cambodia. Plans to expand it globally will begin in early 2020. 

However, the policy change will only affect new users to the site, not those who are already signed up. Reuters notes that those who want to deactivate the function can unlink their two-factor authentication numbers from the friend suggestion feature and then add them back in.

Antitrust concerns

While Facebook has already caught the ire of regulators from several different agencies, it may not be out of the woods yet. 

The FTC announced earlier this month that it will be opening up an antitrust investigation into the platform as part of a larger examination of the role of Big Tech companies in the U.S. Specifically, FTC officials will be seeking to find out if Facebook’s attempt to integrate several of its holdings will eventually make it too big to break up.

For more information about Facebook, including reviews by consumers, readers can visit ConsumerAffairs page here.

Wawa, which operates hundreds of convenience stores along the East Coast, has reported details of a payment card data breach lasting nine months and potentially affecting all locations.

Consumers who used a credit or debit card at a Wawa location after March 4 may be exposed. In a statement, the company said the breach potentially exposed card numbers, expiration dates, and cardholders’ names.

Wawa says its security team found the malware on the company’s payment processing servers on December 10 and contained it two days later. The company says it brought in a forensics firm whose investigators determined that the malware began running at different times after March 4. 

Consumers face no liability

Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens apologized to customers and said the company believes the malware no longer poses a risk.

"Once we discovered this malware, we immediately took steps to contain it and launched a forensics investigation so that we could share meaningful information with our customers,” Gheysens said. “I want to reassure anyone impacted they will not be responsible for fraudulent charges related to this incident.”

Wawa customers who used a payment card at any location in the last nine months should carefully examine their bank and credit card statements during that time for unauthorized charges. 

Customers should also notify the fraud departments of their card issuers to tell them the card was used at Wawa and may be potentially compromised. The institution may decide to issue new cards as a precaution.

Free credit monitoring

Wawa said it is offering identity protection and credit monitoring services at no charge to affected customers. You’ll find information about signing up here.

The company did not say -- and may not know -- how the system was breached. But as we reported earlier this week, fraudsters attacking gas pumps have become more sophisticated, using email phishing schemes to trick employees into downloading malware, which then makes its way to the card processing network.

When a customer buys gas with a credit card, the point-of-sale system sends the unencrypted data to the company’s main network where the scammer’s software is waiting to capture it. In issuing a warning, Visa said many companies make it easier for thieves by not walling off this data from the rest of the network.

The price of gasoline continues to fall, making holiday road trips a little more affordable in most of the country.

The AAA Fuel Gauge Survey shows the national average price of regular gasoline is $2.55 a gallon, a penny less than a week ago. But holiday travelers will pay an average of 19 cents a gallon more than they did in 2018. The average price of premium is $3.14 a gallon, two cents cheaper than last Friday. The average price of diesel fuel is $2.99, the same as a week ago.

In its Winter Price Forecast issued Thursday, AAA predicted prices will continue to fall into the end of the year but won’t reach the low levels where they ended 2018. More likely, AAA said the national average will settle into a range between $2.40 and $2.45 a gallon, nearly 20 cents more than last year’s closing price.

Where you live matters

“Depending on where you live in the country, you will see gas prices drop anywhere between a nickel and a quarter this month,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA’s spokesperson. “While that will offer savings to motorists, it is not as much as they saw last December.”

Casselano said the main reason for higher gas prices this year is higher crude oil prices. Last year, fears of a recession -- which never materialized -- sent crude oil prices into a tailspin.

The main reason the average price is falling is price drops west of the Mississippi River. AAA says western states have just about recovered from tight supplies after a number of refinery bottlenecks during the fall.

California gas prices have dropped 57 cents a gallon since October, and Hawaii has regained the dubious honor of having the most expensive fuel in the nation. Missouri has edged out Mississippi as the state with the cheapest gas.

The states with the most expensive regular gas

These states currently have the highest prices for regular gas, according to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey:

• Hawaii ($3.66)

• California ($3.60)

• Washington ($3.19) 

• Nevada ($3.10)

• Oregon ($3.06) 

• Alaska ($3.05)

• Arizona ($2.86)

• Utah ($2.78)

• Idaho ($2.77) 

• Pennsylvania ($2.76)

The states with the cheapest regular gas

The survey found these states currently have the lowest prices for regular gas:

• Missouri ($2.20)

• Mississippi ($2.21)

• Texas ($2.22)

• Oklahoma ($2.23)

• Louisiana ($2.23)

• Alabama ($2.26)

• Arkansas ($2.26)

• South Carolina ($2.28)

• Kansas ($2.27)

• Virginia ($2.29)

BMC is recalling about 900 Teammachine SLR01 DISC bicycles and framesets sold in the U.S. and Canada.

The fork steerer tube on the bicycles and framesets can crack or break during use, posing a fall hazard.

The firm has received four reports of the fork steerer tube breaking while in use, with one consumer experiencing a shoulder injury that required hospitalization and surgery, and another consumer reporting minor scratches and bruising.

This recall involves all model year 2018 and 2019 Teammachine SLR01 DISC bicycles and framesets. The product is a performance road bike. BMC is printed on the downtube. The bikes and framesets were sold in red, green, grey, graphite, blue and aqua green.

Recalled models contain serial numbers starting with 8R17 and 8R18, followed by one letter and a four-digit code, which is printed on the underside of the bottom bracket of the bicycle. Only bicycles and framesets with a FK6 fork require a replacement fork, which will be confirmed by BMC authorized dealers during the free inspection.

The bicycles and framesets, manufactured in Taiwan and Poland, were sold at authorized BMC bicycle dealers and bicycle stores nationwide from July 2017, through October 2019, for between $4,500 and $12,500.

What to do

Consumers should immediately stop using recalled bicycles and contact their local BMC authorized dealer for a free inspection and free replacement fork.

Consumers may contact BMC USA toll-free at (888) 262-7755 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PT) Monday through Friday, by email at slr01inspection-US@BMC-Switzerland.com , or online at www.BMC-Switzerland.com/teammachinerecall or www.BMC-Switzerland.com and click on “Support” at the top of the page, then Recalls and Safety for more information.

Chrysler is recalling 15 Mopar steering rack and pinion electric gear assemblies for Ram 1500 trucks (part number 68419897AB) sold as service replacement parts.

The electric power steering (EPS) gears may contain a contaminated circuit card assembly that can short circuit.

A short circuit can cause an intermittent loss of power steering assist, requiring an inconsistent steering effort to control the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the EPS gear assembly, free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin January 3, 2020.

Owners may contact Chrysler customer service at (800) 853-1403. Chrysler's number for this recall is VB9.

Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) is recalling six model year 2018-2019 S560s, S560 Cabrioles, and S560 4MATICs with 8-cylinder gasoline engines.

The threaded connection between the camshaft idler gear and the crankcase may be improperly tightened, possibly causing the idler gear to detach from the crankcase.

A detached idler gear can damage the engine, resulting in a stall and increasing the risk of a crash.

What to do

MBUSA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the engine free of charge.

The recall is expected to begin January 14, 2020.

Owners may contact MBUSA customer service at (800) 367-6372.

Juul, the grand potentate of e-cigarettes, has taken another punch in the gut. 

In a study just released by Portland State University (Oregon), researchers found that the formula Juul uses for its e-cigarettes is almost a dead-ringer for both the addictive composition and the flavor of Marlboro cigarettes. Or, in their own words, Juul is nothing more than an “analog” version of Marlboro.

Déjà vu?

Previous research showed that the nicotine levels in tobacco-based cigarette smoke is “much higher than those in early e-liquids.”If this sounds familiar to the nicotine controversy of the ‘90s, there are some similarities. 

“The distribution of nicotine ... has been manipulated in tobacco smoke and now in electronic cigarettes by the use of acids to de-freebase nicotine and form ‘nicotine salts’” wrote the researchers. “The design evolution for e-cigarettes has made them more effective as substitutes to get smokers off combustibles. However, this evolution has likely made e-cigarette products vastly more addictive for never-smokers.”

“It becomes obvious why novice users, people who’ve never smoked before, find it easy to try Juul,” researcher David Peyton told Reuters. “And once you try it, you’re getting dosed with a high concentration of nicotine.”

The Goldilocks Principle

Maybe Marlboro didn’t want to see its $12.8 billion investment in Juul go up in smoke, but it had to know that this vaping thing could turn out bad for everyone involved.

“For Marlboro, by using additives and/or blend manipulation … [it accomplished] a Goldilocks principle solution (ie, not too harsh, not too mild),” the researchers wrote, further noting the “human affinity for the sensory bite” similar to carbonated beverages.

One of the key reasons why teens and young adults are drawn to e-cigarettes like Juul is the flavor. In a parallel study that was just released, researchers found that the “smoothness” of e-cigarettes is a “cross-cutting mediator” when compared to the bitter taste of tobacco. 

“Sweetness may also mediate appeal-enhancing effects of fruit and appeal-reducing effects of nicotine. Non-tobacco flavours may suppress appeal-reducing effects of nicotine in e-cigarettes through attenuation of nicotine’s aversive taste attributes,” the researchers concluded.

Where does Juul go from here?

Maybe it’s time for Juul to cut bait and go home. It was recenlty forced to give up its popular mint-flavored pods, and the FDA has repeatedly called the company out for playing a large role in the teen vaping crisis. Its CEO even apologized to the parents of teens hooked on its product.

Where the company is going is anyone’s guess, but it’s possible Juul can find a way out of the woods of woe it keeps walking into, primarily the one where all its teen consumers are.

“Youth use of vapor products is detrimental to our mission, and to our business,” the company recently wrote on its website. “Our target market is the one billion adult smokers globally, more than 70 percent of whom want to quit using combustible cigarettes (per CDC). Offering these adult smokers a real alternative to cigarettes is a public health and commercial opportunity of historic proportions, with over 7 million preventable deaths per year caused by cigarettes. Youth use puts this all at risk.”

“Through shared effort, we can significantly reduce youth access to, and usage of, all vapor products, including JUUL, while at the same time ensuring that adult smokers can access a product that is helping millions of them switch from combustible cigarettes – a goal we all share.”

Buying prescription drugs from Canada, where prices are much lower, is illegal. But the Trump administration is taking steps to legalize the purchase of some drugs from north of the border.

Two federal agencies -- the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) -- this week issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to allow the importation of certain drugs to address high costs of the same drugs in the U.S. 

The proposal must be submitted for a comment period before it can become final. Drug companies have adamantly opposed such a move in the past and can be expected to oppose the change in U.S. policy.

At the same time, the administration has announced new draft guidance for drug manufacturers to follow to ease the process of importing prescription drugs that are FDA-approved, manufactured abroad, authorized for sale in any foreign country, and originally intended for sale in that foreign country.

The object is to lower costs to consumers

The proposed rule is aimed at lowering drug costs for consumers while making sure that imported drugs pose no additional risk to public health. Under the draft guidance, drug companies would be required to certify that the drug being imported is FDA-approved.

"Today's announcement outlines two pathways for the safe importation of certain prescription drugs to help provide safe, effective, more affordable drugs to American patients," said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. "The president has recognized the opportunity to lower costs for American patients through safe importation, and we at HHS and FDA are delivering on that possibility through a safe, commonsense approach."

Lowering prescription drug costs has been an issue uniting Republicans and Democrats lately. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump called for steps to cut drug costs, as did Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who at the time was seeking the Democratic presidential nomination.

Issue gains traction

In June, the Senate held a series of hearings on the impact of rising drug prices. Dr. Janet Woodcock, Director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research for the FDA, told the committee that the agency is working to increase the number of generic drugs on the market as a way to lower prices.

Woodcock said the agency wants to curb list price increases, reduce the financial burden on beneficiaries, improve transparency, and reduce the risks associated with rebates inappropriately influencing formulary placement or inducing business payable by Medicare Part D or Medicaid.

The FDA’s proposed rule would allow states and organizations that want to import drugs from Canada to submit proposals to the FDA for review. The rule would establish a system to allow pharmacists, wholesalers, and other non-government organizations to apply for permission to establish an import program.

Under the plan, not all drugs would be eligible for import to the U.S. Drugs that meet the eligibility requirements would have to be relabeled with the required U.S. labeling prior to importation and undergo testing for authenticity, degradation, and to ensure that the drugs meet FDA standards. 

They would also have to be cheaper than their cost in the U.S.

For the last few years, Google, Amazon, and other tech giants have competed to get you to buy their smart devices. They’re still competing, but they apparently see the need for a little cooperation.

For example, what if Alexa controls some of your home’s functions but Google Assistant controls other vital parts? Wouldn’t it be helpful if the two could talk to each other?

Amazon, Apple, Google, and the Zigbee Alliance -- an organization that develops IoT standards -- announced plans this week to develop and promote the adoption of a new, royalty-free connectivity standard to increase compatibility among smart home products.

In other words, they’re going to look for a way that they can tweak their platforms so they can use a standard communication system that will enable them to communicate.

The project will also include Zigbee Alliance board member companies like IKEA, Legrand, NXP Semiconductors, Resideo, Samsung SmartThings, Schneider Electric, Signify, Silicon Labs, Somfy, and Wulian.

Once a standard is developed, manufacturers can produce smart products that are even smarter and able to communicate across brands. The project will build on internet protocol (IP) to connect smart devices, mobile apps, and cloud services.

Clearing up some confusion

The collaboration could solve a problem many consumers face. When they go to Lowes or Home Depot to purchase a smart lock, they have to figure out which platform the lock works with. Once a common standard is adopted, that confusing decision goes away.

The new project is called “Project Connected Home over IP.” Its aim is to not only develop a common standard but ensure that the standard is secure and that homeowners can trust it.

“The project is built around a shared belief that smart home devices should be secure, reliable, and seamless to use,” the companies said in a statement. “By building upon Internet Protocol (IP), the project aims to enable communication across smart home devices, mobile apps and cloud services and to define a specific set of IP-based networking technologies for device certification.”

Open-source approach

The participating companies will take an open-source approach as they develop and implement a new, unified connectivity protocol. They plan to use contributions from proven and established smart home technologies from Amazon, Apple, Google, Zigbee Alliance, and other participants.

Once developed, the common standard should make it easier for smart device manufacturers to build devices that are compatible with smart home and voice services like Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and Google’s Assistant.

When all of this will happen is so far unclear, but the group says it hopes to have a first draft of the standard ready for review before the end of 2020.