ZigBee: The new Bluetooth?

Networking Technology Update This newsletter is sponsored by ShoreTel eBook: IP Telephony from A to Z Get the book on VoIP, from vendor evaluation and selection to ensuring reliability and security. Whether you're considering a rollout or you've already deployed, you'll quickly get up to speed on the most important IP telephony issues and factors. Networking Technology Update, 05/28/07 ZigBee: The new Bluetooth? By John Greenland Although most IT professionals, as well as a majority of consumers, are familiar with the Bluetooth wireless data-communications standard, very few are aware of the new ZigBee wireless data standard. In time this awareness will grow, but right now ZigBee is in the early stage of the adoption process; it's just beginning to be rolled out in industrial applications, with consumer-oriented applications soon to follow. VoIP: Lessons from Early Adopters Experts say VoIP isn't a magic wand that will solve all of an organization's communications challenges right out of the box. Learn why VoIP may not produce expected savings and productivity gains, and other lessons from early adopters. Click Here to Watch The ZigBee standard differs from Bluetooth in many ways, but essentially it addresses a different set of market requirements. First and foremost, ZigBee targets inexpensive, low-power applications. Integrated ZigBee chipsets, with battery power slated to last six months to two years, are available for $1 or less. In addition, ZigBee-enabled devices are networked readily: As many as 65,536 such devices can be connected in a star topology or a peer-to-peer configuration. The data rate for this cost-effective and low-power technology is 20K to 250Kbps. ZigBee, based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, performs very well in environments with a low signal-to-noise ratio. Radio signals extend 10 meters to 40 meters, depending on settings and signal strength). The ZigBee standard supports various network topologies fully -- including mesh configurations with routes between nodes dynamically modified based on the availability of intermediate routing nodes -- and is optimized for timing-critical applications and power management. It takes less than 30 msec to join a network, less than 15 msec to go from sleeping to active and less than 15 msec to access a channel. For more on this story, please click here.

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Contact the author: Greenland is director for systems and product integration at Telargo. This newsletter is sponsored by ShoreTel eBook: IP Telephony from A to Z Get the book on VoIP, from vendor evaluation and selection to ensuring reliability and security. Whether you're considering a rollout or you've already deployed, you'll quickly get up to speed on the most important IP telephony issues and factors. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: networking.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007