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

Here's how banks can reinvigorate deposit growth with incentives

Streaming incentives could appeal to a widespread customer segment. Streaming services have broad appeal: 64% of US households have access to either Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, and more than...

What the CBS Blackout Means for the Future of Streaming

"The question is the degree to which consumers value content other than CBS, and whether CBS will be missing permanently from the AT&T lineup," said Brett Sappington, principal analyst at Parks Associ...

The Future of Entertainment Services Authentication

A leading area of innovation is in adaptive authentication. This technology determines the level of authentication needed for a given interaction with a service. So, each interaction comes with a spec...

Google's Super-Sized Nest Hub Draws Mixed Reviews

Google has included a hardware switch on the unit that shuts off both the camera and microphone. "The ability to shut off both the camera and the microphone will appeal to those who have privacy conc...