The Zigbee Alliance has updated their site in terms of support for home automation. Its still a bit obscure, but slowly getting resolved and defined, but don't expect it to be at a place where you can buy hundreds of interoperable ZigBee home automation products just yet. Anyway, it might be interesting reading:
http://www.zigbee.org/homeautomation
Today the ZigBee Alliance also released this info:
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Today ZigBee Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, commercial and consumer applications, announced the certification of 17 devices from 10 manufacturers using ZigBee Home Automation, plus enhancements to the public application profile. ZigBee Home Automation is a standard offering control for home appliances, lighting, environment, energy use, and security. It provides a path to direct interoperability with other ZigBee public application profiles, including the industry-leading ZigBee Smart Energy.
Features now include new security mechanisms and support for doorbells and mechanized window shades, along with existing features including control of HVAC systems, power outlets, motorized devices, security and other devices. Product manufacturers will benefit from this standardized approach that makes devices reliable, affordable, easy-to-install and operate.
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So, this is a start....
I wanted to say a bit for those reading this that don't have a good ZigBee background. Unlike other home automation protocols you might have come across, like X-10, UPB, Insteon, Z-Wave, ZigBee isn't a product that you can go out to buy as a product. In all the above mentioned technologies, the actual technology was created for the purpose of selling products. X-10 sells X-10, PCS sells UPB, Smarthome sells Insteon, Zensys sells Z-Wave, etc. ZigBee isn't like that at all. ZigBee is an open standard being defined that companies will adopt and use for products, but at this early stage, just a few companies have adopted the technology to be used in a few proprietary ways.
The power of ZigBee for home automation will be stage 2, when the general home automation protocols are defined and companies can start producing interoperable products. Although its a slow process, I can tell you that it will be worth the wait, and things ARE happening. DON'T assume ZigBee is dead because its taken years to get to this point, this isn't unusual, it definitely is not dead. ZigBee WILL change the home automation landscape, but it also will take time. Just consider it's background and that its different from a product driven technology before you disregard it as not being meaningful for home automation. To date, millions of 802.15.4 radios (ZigBee radio) have already shipped to date, and this is before the full specs are even complete.
Disclosure: I am NOT associated with the ZigBee Alliance or any company that makes or sells ZigBee products.
I'm a wireless analyst that covers the ZigBee market.
http://www.zigbee.org/homeautomation
Today the ZigBee Alliance also released this info:
--------------
Today ZigBee Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, commercial and consumer applications, announced the certification of 17 devices from 10 manufacturers using ZigBee Home Automation, plus enhancements to the public application profile. ZigBee Home Automation is a standard offering control for home appliances, lighting, environment, energy use, and security. It provides a path to direct interoperability with other ZigBee public application profiles, including the industry-leading ZigBee Smart Energy.
Features now include new security mechanisms and support for doorbells and mechanized window shades, along with existing features including control of HVAC systems, power outlets, motorized devices, security and other devices. Product manufacturers will benefit from this standardized approach that makes devices reliable, affordable, easy-to-install and operate.
---------------
So, this is a start....
I wanted to say a bit for those reading this that don't have a good ZigBee background. Unlike other home automation protocols you might have come across, like X-10, UPB, Insteon, Z-Wave, ZigBee isn't a product that you can go out to buy as a product. In all the above mentioned technologies, the actual technology was created for the purpose of selling products. X-10 sells X-10, PCS sells UPB, Smarthome sells Insteon, Zensys sells Z-Wave, etc. ZigBee isn't like that at all. ZigBee is an open standard being defined that companies will adopt and use for products, but at this early stage, just a few companies have adopted the technology to be used in a few proprietary ways.
The power of ZigBee for home automation will be stage 2, when the general home automation protocols are defined and companies can start producing interoperable products. Although its a slow process, I can tell you that it will be worth the wait, and things ARE happening. DON'T assume ZigBee is dead because its taken years to get to this point, this isn't unusual, it definitely is not dead. ZigBee WILL change the home automation landscape, but it also will take time. Just consider it's background and that its different from a product driven technology before you disregard it as not being meaningful for home automation. To date, millions of 802.15.4 radios (ZigBee radio) have already shipped to date, and this is before the full specs are even complete.
Disclosure: I am NOT associated with the ZigBee Alliance or any company that makes or sells ZigBee products.
I'm a wireless analyst that covers the ZigBee market.