Alliance For Smart Home Devices Grows To 600 Companies

Standardized connectivity within smart home products appears to be growing and more than one industry group is focused on improved user experience.

More than 600 companies are now part of the Z-Wave Alliance and more than 2,100 types of connected devices are on the market with Z-Wave capabilities, according to the alliance’s new midyear report.

The Z-Wave Alliance is a group that aims to ‘bring advanced, yet practical wireless products and services to market that work together seamlessly, regardless of brand or vendor.’

Devices with Z-Wave connectivity capabilities include smart home devices, such as connected door locks, smart lights and smart thermostats. More than 70 million Z-Wave devices are currently in use globally, according to the alliance.

“Z-Wave continues to grow exponentially and shatter records, both in certified devices available to consumers and global companies supporting the advancement of the standard,” stated Mitchell Klein, executive director of the Z-Wave Alliance.

“We know this increased momentum is due to Z-Wave’s interoperability, security, network strength and diverse ecosystem; it really is a solution that’s custom built for the connected home,” Klein stated.

This year, more than 150 companies have joined the Z-Wave Alliance and almost all (98%) of new devices hitting the market are Z-Wave Plus certified devices.

The ‘Plus’ version of the Z-Wave certification is designed to improve the end-user experience in devices by improving overall ease-of-use and installation, according to the group.

This focus seems to be shared by another industry group as well.

The Wi-Fi Alliance recently launched an initiative to design whole-home Wi-Fi directly into new homes, as the AI & IoT Daily recently reported (Wi-Fi Alliance Targets New Homes For Total Connectivity).

That program aims to design and integrate enterprise-level Wi-Fi systems into newly built houses that are ready to use when a new homeowner moves in.

“As Wi-Fi has become more and more ubiquitous, and connectivity in general, users are expecting a seamless connectivity experience,” Kevin Robinson, vice president of marketing at the Wi-Fi Alliance, told the AI & IoT Daily at the time. “Wi-Fi Home Design elevates the user experience by ensuring that Wi-Fi networks in new homes meet connectivity, coverage and performance standards.”

 

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