Visonic and Ember to Enable ZigBee-driven Security Devices

Visonic ZigBee sensors and peripherals will integrate with the iControl OpenHome software platform, allowing expanded home management services.

Ember Corp., a provider of low-power, wireless mesh networking technology, and Visonic Ltd., a developer and manufacturer of wireless home security and safety systems and components, announced a partnership to integrate ZigBee communication protocols with Visonic security peripherals. Following joint development efforts by the two companies, Visonic will bring to market new sensors and other security peripherals based on its security devices and Ember’s ZigBee communication technology.

The new security devices will be dedicated for use with the iControl OpenHome software platform from iControl Networks. Their availability will enable broadband service providers to expand their next generation services offering to include home security, remote monitoring and home control services.

Pairing best-in-class software and hardware

The ZigBee RF communication protocol offers numerous benefits for security devices designed to operate as part of a complete home management solution, including long battery life and long range. Ember’s experience in developing ZigBee technology solutions enables high-performing chipsets, providing a complement to Visonic’s experience in developing, manufacturing and supporting wireless security devices.

Ember’s EM357 ZigBee SoC (system on chip) will be integrated in the Visonic line of sensors and other security peripherals for the iControl OpenHome platform. The new ZigBee-driven Visonic sensors and peripherals will provide energy usage and range performance at the level of today’s top-of-the-line security sensors currently available, as well as high sensitivity and reliability – all crucial to dependable home security.

“As the first major security vendor to develop a wide range of ZigBee-based security peripherals, Visonic has taken on an important role in the ZigBee ecosystem,” said Dennis Natale, vice president of sales at Ember Corp. “We are excited about the potential this opens, for us and Visonic, and for broadband service providers, who can integrate the new sensors and devices into an expanded services offering.”

“Reliability and performance have always been cornerstones of our wireless security offering, so we work with only the best possible technologies for every application. As a top developer of ZigBee technology, Ember is the ideal partner to provide us with the communication performance we need for high-performing security sensors and peripherals for the home management services market,” said Oren Kotlicki, director of strategic business at Visonic.

The first Visonic ZigBee-driven security sensors and peripherals will be available later this year.

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