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

Third Of US Broadband Households Have Multiple OTT Packs

Approximately 31 percent of U.S. broadband households have multiple OTT service subscriptions, which is nearly one-half of the 63 percent of U.S. broadband households subscribing to at least one OTT s...

Majority Of Smartwatch Owners Have Paid Music Streaming Sub

Owners of wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers are far more likely to subscribe to paid streaming audio or music services such as Apple Music, Spotify or Pandora One, according t...

Smart home market still small in Europe, but with many players pushing it forward adoption will rise

Other barriers for increasing adoption are concerns about security and privacy. With more reports in mainstream media about smart home devices being hacked, the public awareness of this issue has incr...

Will Apple TV kill the cable box? Not so fast

To go a step further, Apple could embrace over-the-air antennas, whose usage is still on the rise as cable subscriptions sink. (According to Parks Associates, roughly 20 percent of U.S. homes with bro...