Ember today unveiled EmberZNet PRO, a new professional-grade version of its wireless networking software designed to support larger, more sophisticated sensor and control networks. Ember’s network technology enables safer, smarter and more energy-efficient buildings and homes.
EmberZNet PRO is a reliable, scalable and feature-rich wireless network platform. It supports very large networks with high reliability and security. Ember’s network routing is more scalable than competitive wireless technologies; its security mechanisms are more robust; and it sports new features like multicast and source routing that ensure network communication never fails.
Tested mettle
EmberZNet PRO has been extensively tested on Ember’s 500-node test network to ensure reliable operation in a massive network setting under real-world conditions. A number of Ember customers have also tested the software and are already designing products and applications, including Control4, a leader in home control and entertainment systems. Dozens of customers have already announced products using Ember’s components and networking software.
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“We’ve seen tremendous growth in the home automation market, with increasing demand to integrate more devices into whole house systems,” said Will West, CEO of Control4. “EmberZNet PRO will help our customers scale effortlessly as they add new devices.”
EmberZNet PRO is Ember’s third-generation network software designed for self-organizing, self-healing wireless networks using a mesh networking topology. It provides high reliability, high security, multivendor interoperability, low cost, long battery life and integrated network management.
EmberZNet PRO also provides advanced features and functionality to simplify application development and improve performance. For example, it provides an open source serial interface, called EZSP, that makes it easy for product engineers to port existing applications to the new platform. It also provides a capability to allow software upgrades to devices over the air after the devices have been installed.
“Siemens’ APOGEE® Wireless Field Level Network products, which are built on the Ember platform, help building owners improve facility control and cut energy and operational costs, without the expense of network wiring,” said Jay Hendrix, manager of wireless solutions at Siemens. “The Ember platform has proven over many installations to provide the scalability and reliability commercial building owners demand.”
Pricing and availability
EmberZNet PRO will ship in Q1 of 2007 and comes bundled for no charge with the EM250 network system-on-a-chip and EM260 network co-processor. EmberZNet customers can upgrade to EmberZNet PRO for no charge. EmberZNet PRO will also be available from STMicroelectronics.
About Ember Corporation
Ember develops wireless sensor and control network technologies that help make our living and working environments safer, smarter, more comfortable and energy efficient.Ember’s ZigBee-based semiconductors and software enable communication between devices embedded in a variety of building and home automation products. Ember is headquartered in Boston and has a semiconductor development center in Cambridge, England and distributors worldwide. Ember is a lead member of the ZigBee Alliance, and its platform is the National Technical Systems’ (NTS) “Golden Suite” for 802.15.4/ZigBee interoperability testing. For more information, please visit www.ember.com.
About Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
As a leading provider of energy and environmental solutions, building controls and fire safety and security system solutions, Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., makes buildings comfortable, safe, productive, more efficient and less costly to operate. With U.S. headquarters in Buffalo Grove, Ill., Siemens Building Technologies employs 7,200 people and provides a full range of services and solutions from more than 100 locations coast-to-coast. Worldwide, the company has 28,000 employees and operates at a total of more than 500 locations in 51 countries.
About Control4
Founded in 2003, Control4 is the first company to make home automation a practical option for any residence. The Company's unique products combine innovative technology with wired and wireless networking standards, limiting the need for costly, invasive retrofitting of existing homes. Led by a team of experienced industry professionals, Control4 offers a full line of modular home automation products that are affordable, easy to install and allow customers to start small and add to their systems over time. Visit www.control4.com for more information.
