Milpitas, CA, Aug 20, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) — The Z-Wave Alliance, an international consortium of companies that oversee the world’s largest interoperable ecosystem for wireless control products and services, today announced that it has expanded its global reach to Japan, a move that coincides with the newly approved radio frequency range for low-power RF device usage in that country.
As a result, Z-Wave-based control and automation devices for smart homes and small business can be now used in the Japanese market without the need for radio station licensing.
“This is another important step in our continued growth and world market leadership,” stated Mark Walters, Chairman at the Z-Wave Alliance. “The new radio band for low-power RF device usage for control and automation applications in Japan will provide our members with the opportunity to expand their business into this vital new market. The newly allocated band is already supported by hardware platforms from Alliance members Sigma Designs and Mitsumi Electric Company.”
With the Japanese ruling now official, the Alliance immediately announced the first Z-Wave Certified products for this new band, a commercial LED controller and dimmer from IWATSU Electric Company Ltd. that will save energy in commercial lighting applications. “While other control and automation technologies are still ‘examining’ this market, Z-Wave Alliance members are shipping products,” stated Mr. Walters. This announcement comes fast on the heels of the Alliance’s 650th certified product announced in June of this year. These certifications further demonstrate the rapid worldwide growth of Z-Wave as a key enabling technology behind the “Internet of Things.”
The Z-Wave Alliance also announced that it has named industry veteran, Hitoshi Kubota, as the Z-Wave Alliance Evangelist in Japan. Mr.Kubota has more than 40 years of professional experience in the computer and network industry. Most recently he served as the senior advisor for companies in energy management industry as Smart Grid Architect. Mr. Kubota will work to ensure Z-Wave’s rapid adoption in the Japanese market and its use to solve important challenges in energy, aging and other automation and control applications. Mr. Kubota can be reached at hitoshi@z-wavealliance.org.
Z-Wave Evangelists are respected industry representatives and spokespersons for the Z-Wave Alliance. Z-Wave Evangelist serve as main regional contacts for media relations, industry events, conferences, speaking engagements, recruiting, and as implementers of Z-Wave Alliance related programs.
For more information, please visit www.z-wavealliance.org.
About Z-Wave Technology:
Z-Wave is an international wireless standard for intelligent, interoperable, low-power, RF mesh networking technology. This powerful smart chip and compact protocol enable two-way RF communications amongst Z-Wave enabled devices, thus allowing products and services from multiple manufacturers to work seamlessly. Z-Wave continues to be the technology of choice for industry leaders representing: Home Automation, Remote Home/Health Monitoring, Home Entertainment, Smart Home Control, Energy Management and Connected Home Services. Z-Wave enabled products represent the world’s largest ecosystem of interoperable smart products. www.z-wave.com
About The Z-Wave Alliance:
Established in 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is an open consortium of leading companies worldwide dedicated to delivering affordable, reliable easy-to-use, wireless home control products and services. With more than 600 interoperable products certified and over 160 members, the Alliance represents the largest ecosystem of wireless control products in existence and the global, brand-recognized companies that bring these products and services to market. The Alliance supports its members with marketing, networking, technical forums, training, best practices, test and certification tools and a complete interoperability lab. For more information on or to join the Alliance, please email info@z-wavealliance.org or www.z-wavealliance.org.
Z-Wave(R) is a registered trade mark of Sigma Designs and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
More Information:
Z-Wave Alliance
1778 McCarthy Blvd.
Milpitas, CA 95035
USA
Mary Miller
Senior Marketing Director
mary_miller@sdesigns.com
PR Agency:
Sprengel & Partner GmbH
Nisterstrasse 3
56472 Nisterau
Germany
Fabian Sprengel
Tel.: +49 (26 61) 912 600
Fax: +49 (26 61) 912 6013
fs@sprengel-pr.com