The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of companies dedicated to building home control products based on Z-Wave wireless technology, has now certified its 350th product, the Kwikset SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect.
“This is a momentous day for Z-Wave,” Z-Wave Alliance chairman Raoul Wijgergangs noted. “From day one we have been focused on creating a global ecosystem that allows products from various manufacturers to work together seamlessly — with Z-Wave being the glue that brings them all together. There’s no other wireless home control technology that comes even close to the number of certified Z-Wave products available to consumers.”
Z-Wave provides an end-to-end solution that allows the homeowner to wirelessly manage and control lighting, thermostats, appliances, and home entertainment systems from anywhere in the world. The Z-Wave certification process is extensive and those products that achieve certification can be identified by the Z-Wave logo on their packaging. All Z-Wave-certified products are interoperable, making it possible to build a Z-Wave home network.
According to the Z-Wave Alliance, major successes for the technology in 2009 included:
• Retail Growth. Z-Wave products are now available through three major retailers — Radio Shack, Fry’s, and Lowe’s — along with numerous e-tailers. Manufacturers selling products through the retail channel include Cooper, GE/Jasco, Hawking, Homemanageables, Leviton, Schlage, Universal Electronics Inc. (NEVO), and Wayne-Dalton.
• Home Energy Management. Z-Wave puts home energy management in the hands of consumers, while also allowing utilities to communicate with home systems directly – with or without a smart meter. Consumers are actively seeking simple ways to “go green” and Z-Wave falls squarely into that category due to its low-cost and interoperability. Significant traction is taking hold in Europe, according to the Alliance, with Kamstrup, Horstmann, and Modstrøem, while manufacturers in the U.S. are also introducing Z-Wave-certified home energy management solutions including Black & Decker, Schlage (Trane), iControl Networks, and 4Home.
• Next-Gen Home Security. Consumer demand for next-generation interactive home services is accelerating the growth and availability of security and access control solutions in the Z-Wave ecosystem. ADT joined the Z-Wave Alliance in October 2009, adding aarespected brand and a large customer base. Other Z-Wave Alliance members developing Z-Wave-based security and access control solutions include Schlage, Black & Decker, and Wayne-Dalton.
• Enhanced Interoperability. The announcement that Z-Wave interfaces with Control4, a leader in affordable IP-based home control and entertainment systems, in September 2009 was a milestone that opened Z-Wave to the more than one million Control4 products on the market.
“We’re excited that Kwikset’s SmartCode Deadbolt with Home Connect has been confirmed as the 350th certified Z-Wave product,” added Dave Albert, vice president of Residential Access Solutions at Black & Decker’s Security Hardware Division. “The growth of the global Z-Wave ecosystem continues to build momentum, and we are committed to Z-Wave technology as consumer demand continues to rise.”
The Z-Wave Alliance will be exhibiting at CES 2010 (Booth 20901 South Hall 1) in Las Vegas from January 7-10, where the latest Z-Wave certified products will be on display, including the Kwikset SmartCode with Home Connect.
