CORRECTION, CORRECTION, THIS PR HAS BEEN CORRECTED.
ZigBee Alliance Plans Further Integration of Internet Protocol Standards
SAN RAMON, Calif., Apr. 27 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
World's leading low-power wireless networking standard adds new
specification featuring seamless integration with global IT networks to
portfolio
The ZigBee Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies creating standardized wireless solutions for use in
energy management, commercial and consumer applications, today announced it will incorporate global IT
standards from the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) into its specification portfolio of low-power wireless
networking standards. This move will expand the growing portfolio of successful ZigBee specifications and should
further advance the rapid growth of Smart Grid applications that have widely adopted the proven ZigBee Smart
Energy public application profile.
By incorporating IETF standards, ZigBee Smart Energy products will enhance their application capabilities with
native IP support, allowing seamless integration of Internet connectivity into each product. ZigBee members will
also benefit from the knowledge and experience contained in IETF standards for large scale network addressability,
security and IT integration, further building on existing expertise from developing the world's leading technologies in
the area of reliable, low-cost wireless sensor and control networks.
Through cooperative efforts with IETF, ZigBee members will create
additional innovative solutions for wireless sensor and control networks as
part of the new specification. Internet connectivity is currently provided by
existing ZigBee specifications; however, the addition of native IP support
will offer tighter integration from wireless devices all the way to large
scale utility IT networks. The resulting specification will further broaden
ZigBee's suite of low-power wireless network solutions to meet the
diversified needs of companies in the home, automation, healthcare,
commercial building automation, telecommunications and consumer markets.
"This activity creates a win-win for everyone by combining the strengths
of the ZigBee Smart Energy standard with the ubiquity of Internet standards
and confirms that smart meter deployments currently underway will have a
seamless path for continuous upgrades including Internet connectivity," said
Paul De Martini, vice president at Southern California Edison. "ZigBee Smart
Energy solutions are playing a key role in our Smart Grid enabled programs
that will provide our customers with choice and promote long term
sustainability." An Edison International company, Southern California Edison
is the largest electric utility in the state of California, serving a
population of more than 13 million via 4.8 million customer accounts.
The Alliance provides the leading low-power wireless networking standards
that are open, extensible and easily upgradable. It will build on the success
of existing Smart Grid deployments of smart meters and Home Area Networks
(HAN) using the ZigBee Smart Energy profile. This move will greatly assist
global standardization efforts for Smart Grid applications including HAN
devices, plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), distributed generation and storage
applications.
"This is what our members have been looking for - the established,
respected and mature capability of ZigBee wireless standards coupled with
native IP capabilities along with the support of the IETF," said Bob Heile,
chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "Our members look forward to collaborating
with the IETF on wireless sensor network development. The ZigBee Alliance
will continue looking for ways to work with, and support, open standards as
part of our continuing development of the world's leading low-power wireless
networking solutions."
ZigBee Smart Energy is the only standardized home area network solution
in the market today meeting the tough requirements of leading utilities and
energy service providers worldwide. The deployment of an estimated 30 million
ZigBee equipped smart meters is underway in North America.
ZigBee Smart Energy - The Standard for Energy Management and Efficiency
ZigBee Smart Energy enables wireless communication between utilities,
energy service providers and common household devices such as smart
thermostats and appliances. It improves energy efficiency by allowing
consumers to choose interoperable products from different manufacturers
giving them the means to manage their energy consumption more precisely using
automation and near real-time information. It also helps utility companies
implement new advanced metering and demand response programs to drive greater
energy management and efficiency, while responding to changing government
requirements.
ZigBee: Control your world
ZigBee is the global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to work together and enhance
everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of more than 300 member companies driving
development of ZigBee wireless technology. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as the leading
wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in consumer electronics, energy, home, commercial and
SOURCE: ZigBee Alliance
CONTACT: Kevin Schader of ZigBee Alliance,
+1-925-275-6672, kschader@inventures.com; or
Earlene Tang of GolinHarris,
+1-714-662-5115, etang@golinharris.com,
for ZigBee Alliance
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