The ZigBee Alliance and the IPSO (IP for Smart Objects) Alliance are collaborating on wireless home area networks using the ZigBee IP specification and ZigBee Smart Energy version 2.0 standard.

By working with IPSO, ZigBee says it will expedite its development work on ZigBee Smart Energy and by using IP technology, ZigBee Smart Energy gives utilities more flexibility in future Smart Grid deployments.
 
The ZigBee Alliance is a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, commercial and consumer applications, and the IPSO Alliance promotes the use of Internet Protocol (IP) in smart objects.
 
ZigBee Smart Energy is the wireless HAN standard with more than 40 million smart meters being installed around the world. Common HAN devices include utility meters, thermostats, pool pumps, water heaters, appliances, and plug-in electric vehicles.
 
“Working with the IPSO Alliance will speed our development work on ZigBee Smart Energy,” said Bob Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. “By using IP technology, ZigBee Smart Energy will give utilities more flexibility in future Smart Grid deployments.”

IPSO is the latest organization to collaborate on ZigBee Smart Energy. Four other organizations are working to expand this standard for HANs, including DLMS, EPRI, ESMIG, and HomePlug Powerline Alliance.
 
“The IPSO Alliance is pleased to be working with the energy experts at the ZigBee Alliance on their industry leading standard for HANs,” said Geoff Mulligan, chairman of the IPSO Alliance. “We have been playing an active role in this space and our contributions to ZigBee Smart Energy and the ZigBee IP specification will help speed adoption of the Smart Grid.”

For more information and a list of ZigBee-certified products, visit www.ZigBee.org/SmartEnergy.