Providing Market Intelligence for 40 Years

In The News

ZigBee, Z-Wave, Thread and WeMo: What's the Difference?

However, most of these networks also need a "primary" device that serves as a network controller. If the primary device drops out of service, another device can often take over. Interfaces with smartphones or tablets can be handled by hubs, commercially available devices that are often compatible with two or more of these standards, as well as with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

"You have to have a hub to connect with the home network" for most of these protocols, said Tom Kerber, director of research, home controls and energy for Dallas-based market-research firm Parks Associates. "Hubs used to be $200, but now they come on USB sticks, cost $10 and plug into the back of the router."

Fortunately, many widely sold hubs can communicate with devices using two or more of these standards, allowing customers to mix 'n' match to some extent. But let's look at the differences among them.

From the article "ZigBee, Z-Wave, Thread and WeMo: What's the Difference?" by Kevin Parrish.

Previously In The News

Energy Bundled Services In Homes

The number of homes with BOTH broadband and solar PV doubled in the last two years as the number of broadband households that have adopted rooftop solar PV panels grew to 4 percent cross nation by the...

Anxious About Real Estate? 6 Trends Making Housing Worrisome

A survey of 1,250 U.S. adults from Coldwell Banker Real Estate and Parks Associates found 71 percent want “a move-in ready home.” Now 45 percent of those polled said move-in ready could mean new co...

More People Listen To Music On Smartphones Than Make Calls, Study Finds

US-based market researcher, Parks Associates, in its study said that 68 percent of smartphone owners in the US listen to music via streaming outlets on a daily basis. The company also found, on a...

Security Mechanisms For Smart Homes

As devices in the home connect to the Internet, they expose our homes to hackers. With Parks Associates predicting more than 50 million connected homes by 2020, it's time for developers to make protec...