The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies deploying Z-Wave, will hold a brand new competition to support and incentivize innovation on the Z-Wave platform. The yearlong Z-Wave Labs program will accept applications from start-up companies and entrepreneurs looking to bring Z-Wave products to market.
In order to accelerate innovation on the Z-Wave platform and lower the barrier of entry for new companies to develop IoT products, the program will reward one selected individual or company each month starting in May 2015 with a twelve-month membership to the Z-Wave Alliance as well as one of the newly available IoT-ready 500 Series Z-Wave Developer Kits from Sigma Designs.
“The Z-Wave Alliance recognizes the importance of start-ups and disrupters in the industry both to jumpstart innovation, but also to accelerate widespread adoption of smart home and IoT technology,” said Mary Miller, senior director of corporate marketing at Sigma Designs and a principal board member of the Z-Wave Alliance. “With more than 1,200 Z-Wave-certified devices currently on the market and 300 companies working together to create more solutions every single day, this program is a unique opportunity for young start-ups and entrepreneurs to engineer exciting new products for the Z-Wave ecosystem.”
Winners can choose from the new 500 Series Developer Kits for support in building either controller or embedded Z-Wave products. The Z-Wave Controller Development Kit is designed to meet IoT for smart home market needs for both in-home and cloud-based services, as well as development for gateways, portals, televisions, set-top boxes, and additional consumer electronics products and services. Feature-rich, IoT-enabled development is greatly expedited through the inclusion of serial API, Z/IP Gateway, Z-Ware C-API, and access to full source code.
The Z-Wave Controller Development Kit includes:
•Faster time to market – A Z-Wave gateway/router prototype can be built within one week.
•Reduced development cost to enter the IoT Smart Home market
•Source code stacks as a resource on which to build OEM applications
•A single kit for product development serves all regions in the world
Sigma Designs’ Z-Wave Embedded Development Kit consists of the hardware and software tools required to develop Z-Wave embedded IoT for Smart Home end-devices such as door locks, lights, sensors and thermostats.
The Z-Wave Embedded Development Kit includes:
•Embedded sample applications for quick prototyping
•Framework for building new software applications
•Z-Wave protocol sniffer tools for analyzing and resolving issues
•Z-Wave RF modules for building prototypes
•Versatile development module for easy hardware prototyping
Featured at a lower price point than previous editions, both are available today and include streamlined hardware and software tools for Z-Wave product development including controllers and end devices.
“Winners will have mentors that provide access to an extensive network of companies that know how to manufacture, distribute and market Z-Wave products,” Miller said. “Winners will have an opportunity to leverage the diverse go-to-market channels that Z-Wave Alliance membership will afford them.”
More details on the Z-Wave Labs Program, including the application process, judging criteria and timelines will be announced in April 2015.
