Ember Introduces Multi-Network Support for ZigBee PRO Networks

Ember Introduces Multi-Network Support for ZigBee PRO Networks PR Newswire BOSTON and CAMBRIDGE, England, June 26, 2012 - ZigBee market leader notches another industry first BOSTON and CAMBRIDGE, England, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Ember, a leading provider of low-power wireless mesh networking technology, became the world's first ZigBee technology provider to support multiple interconnecting networks on a single system-on-chip (SoC) or network co-processor (NCP) for Connected Home applications. The Ember breakthrough enables a single SoC or NCP device to operate on multiple ZigBee PRO networks or Personal Area Networks (PANs). Thus, Ember- enabled Connected Home devices such as home gateways, appliances, displays and thermostats will be able to operate concurrently on multiple ZigBee PRO networks that support ZigBee Smart Energy and ZigBee Home Automation applications. The new Ember solution will significantly benefit OEMs by reducing the bill of materials (BOM) cost for their products as well as providing consumers the benefit of more integrated applications in the Connected Home. Ember will initially offer the capability to connect consumer applications and networks in the home with utility-owned smart metering Home Area Networks (HANs). In the first configuration, an Ember EM357 could operate as a coordinator or router on a ZigBee Home Automation network and also operate as a "sleepy" end device on a secondary network running ZigBee Smart Energy 1.x.