Silicon Labs Achieves ZigBee IP Golden Unit Certification

The new ZigBee IP specification adds network and security layers and an application framework to the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. It supports cost-effective, energy-efficient wireless mesh networks based on standard Internet protocols such as IPv6, 6LoWPAN, PANA, RPL, TCP, TLS and UDP. Ultimately, ZigBee IP will provide a standards-based foundation for Internet of Things applications ranging from smart meters for the smart grid to in-home energy management systems to wireless sensor networks.

As one of the first to be certified by the ZigBee Alliance, Silicon Labs’ Ember ZigBee solutions, including EM35x wireless system-on-chip devices, Ember ZigBee IP networking software and development tools, will serve as a preferred development platform for building and testing future connected products based on the ZigBee IP specification. The Golden Unit certification process instills confidence among developers and end users that all connected device products for the IoT from different vendors will interoperate seamlessly.

“We welcome the release of the ZigBee IP specification because it gives semiconductor, software and system suppliers a single proven standard for developing and deploying low-power, cost-effective IP-based solutions for the Internet of Things,” said Diwakar Vishakhadatta, vice president and general manager of Silicon Labs’ Embedded Systems group. “We look forward to continuing collaboration with the ZigBee Alliance and its members to promote ZigBee IP and implement the specification in a wide range of connected device products.”

About Ember ZigBee Solutions

Silicon Labs’ Ember ZigBee solutions include EM35x wireless devices, EmberZNet PRO software and development tools, providing a comprehensive, scalable platform for 2.4 GHz wireless mesh networking applications. The most widely used ZigBee platform for mesh networking applications, EM35x devices can be deployed as SoCs for cost-sensitive, low-power sensor networks and other simple connected devices or configured as network coprocessors for complex applications running on high-performance applications processors. The EM35x devices integrate a 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.15.4 wireless transceiver with an +8 dBm power amplifier, ARM Cortex-M3 processor, up to 192 kB flash memory and 12 kB RAM.

EM35x devices are tightly integrated with Silicon Labs’ EmberZNet PRO mesh networking protocol stack. Deployed in more wireless networking products than any other ZigBee stack, EmberZNet PRO software provides enhancements for robustness, scalability and ease-of-use even in larger networks and more challenging environments. The software stack is complemented by the Ember Desktop development environment, which reduces design time by providing sophisticated visualization and debugging tools and application templates for the ZigBee Smart Energy, Home Automation and Light Link profiles.

ZigBee: Control your world

ZigBee offers green and global wireless standards connecting the widest range of devices to work together intelligently and help you control your world. The ZigBee Alliance is an open, non-profit association of approximately 400 members driving development of innovative, reliable and easy-to-use ZigBee standards. The Alliance promotes worldwide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in consumer, commercial and industrial areas.