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ABI Research Reaffirms Confidence in the Future of ZigBee OYSTER BAY, N.Y. --(Business Wire)-- Oct. 11, 2004 -- Recent press coverage quoted a technology analyst as doubting the future of ZigBee, the new low-power, low data rate wireless networking technology for home and industry, because of what was termed "fragmentation".What they meant was that the final ZigBee standard has not yet been completely drafted, and until it is, no products can claim to be "ZigBee-compliant." That has not stopped some vendors from seeking a first foothold in the market with products based on an estimate of what the standard will finally look like. ABI Research, which has examined the new technology carefully in its study "ZigBee and 802.15.4 Wireless Network Markets", has a much more positive assessment, and analyst Chris Lopez explains why he is standing by his conclusions. "While a few companies have produced rather inferior solutions that are entirely proprietary," he says, "most of the companies offering 'pre-standard' products are themselves members of the ZigBee Alliance that is creating the standard. They know what's going to be in it because they're involved in writing it, and they are sticking very closely to what they know will be the protocol's final shape." Bob Healy, president of the ZigBee Alliance, recently addressed the issue in an email to members, in which he cautioned them to describe their current products as "ZigBee-ready", rather than "ZigBee-compliant." Lopez believes there is no chance that a buyer of one of today's "ZigBee-ready" products will be left out in the cold once the standard is ratified. Finally, he says, smart money - most conspicuously Paul Allen's multi-million dollar investment in ZigBee developer Ember Corporation - is heading towards the ZigBee market. That, he says, is a vote of confidence in support of ABI Research's own conclusions. Founded in 1990 and headquartered in New York, ABI Research maintains global operations that support annual research programs, quarterly intelligence services and market reports in wireless, automotive, semiconductors, broadband, and energy. Their market research products can be found on the Web at www.abiresearch.com, or by calling 516.624.3113. |
