What is the Zigbee Alliance

The ZigBee Alliance is a not-for-profit association of technology companies that promotes interoperability for low-power wireless devices cost-effectively.
What is the Zigbee Alliance
Table of Contents

Zigbee Alliance, a key player in the IoT space, offers efficient wireless technology well-suited for IoT applications. ZigBee IoT protocol has already become more and more important in most technological areas, from building automation and security systems to industrial automation.

According to studies, by 2023, Short-range technologies, including Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Bluetooth, will dominate the Internet of Things (IoT) compared to other 21 billion connections. 

It has emerged as an open standard to take a step ahead in short-range wireless communication. Any company can join the Zigbee Alliance and develop products compatible with the Zigbee standard. This gives consumers a wide range of choices regarding Zigbee compatible products like ZigBee gateway.

Dusun IoT has gotten two products certified by CSA-IoT Zigbee Alliance:

DSGW-030
Model: DSGW-030; CPU: MT7688
RAM: Up to 256MB; OS: OpenWrt
Optional Wireless: Wi-Fi 2.4G, Z-Wave, Bluetooth 5.2, Zigbee 3.0

DSGW-030 Zigbee Wi-Fi/Ethernet gateway

DSGW-030 Zigbee Alliance certification page

DSGW-040
Model: DSGW-040; CPU: MT7620A
RAM: Up to 128MB; OS: OpenWrt
Optional Wireless: Wi-Fi 2.4G, Z-Wave, Bluetooth 5.2, LTE Cat.M1/ Cat.1, Zigbee 3.0

DSGW-040 Zigbee LTE gateway

DSGW-040 Zigbee Alliance Certification Page

Looking to the future, it will promote the extension of IoT and take it to new heights. To get the most about Zigbee Alliance, let’s proceed.

What is the ZigBee Alliance?

ZigBee Alliance is a nonprofit alliance between around 400 technology companies formed in 2002, and its headquarter is in Davis, California. The reason behind this alliance is the promotion of the interoperability of low-power wireless products.

To date, the Zigbee Alliance has released three generations of standards: ZigBee 1.0 (2004), ZigBee 2.0 (2007), and ZigBee 3.0 (2014). ZigBee 3.0 is the most recent and comprehensive standard version, providing significant enhancements over previous versions regarding security, range, data rates, and power consumption.

How Does the ZigBee Alliance Work?

The ZigBee alliance’s aim of enabling reliable, affordable, and energy-efficient digital information and control for industrial and commercial use underlines the consideration that went into its development. To put it another way, the Zigbee Alliance develops specifications for wireless technologies that operate in a network.

This remarkable alliance has showcased its rapid growth, with over 50 million ZigBee smart devices shipped yearly. The most common ZigBee applications are home automation systems, where users can remotely control lights, locks, thermostats, and more through their smartphones or tablets.

Another factor that makes this alliance noteworthy is fostering collaboration between companies working in related fields, such as smart cities or connected homes initiatives.

A few prestigious members of ZigBee Alliance are Amazon, Apple, COMCAST, Google, Haier, HUAWEI, IKEA, Legrand, LG, NXP Semiconductors, SAMSUNG, Silicon Labs, Signify, Scheider Electric, Somfy Group, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and many other big names.

ZigBee Alliance Membership and How to Join ZigBee Alliance?

ZigBee Alliance offers new companies to work with the world’s fastest-growing and most innovative companies. There are different levels of membership offered by ZigBee Alliance:

Associate Members: Associate members are companies interested in ZigBee technology but are not directly involved in developing or commercializing ZigBee products.

Adopter Members: Adopter members have demonstrated compliance with the ZigBee specification and signed the Adopter Agreement. By signing the Adopter Agreement, members commit to supporting the ZigBee Alliance and its objectives, including promoting interoperability and continuing to improve the ZigBee specification.

Participant Members: Participants members can create, maintain and promote ZigBee standards for later usage. These members can serve on committees and Alliance Working Groups; not only this, but they can vote on ZigBee standards.

Promoter Members: Promoter members include companies with a significant commitment to the advancement of ZigBee technology. Promoter members participate actively in the ZigBee Alliance and contribute significantly to the ZigBee specification, certification program, and marketing efforts. They can be on the Alliance Board of Directors.

How to join the ZigBee alliance?

ZigBee Alliance offers an easy procedure for interested companies to become a member. All you have to do is complete an Online Member Registration form. It can be done through an online form or either downloading the form.

Then you can sign the Member Agreement as per your membership level; upon completing the agreement, email it to [email protected].

Difference Between ZigBee Alliance and Wi-Fi Alliance 

ZigBee Alliance and Wi-Fii Alliance both work to promote short-range wireless communication technologies. But ZigBee Alliance is a consortium of companies that develops and promotes the Zigbee wireless standard. The Wi-Fi Alliance is a trade group that promotes the Wi-Fi networking standard. Following are a few other differences:

Explore: ZigBee WiFi Gateway

Operation and Aims

The ZigBee Alliance is a standard for low-power, mesh networks, certifying the interoperability of 802.15.4 products. Not only this, but the alliance also defines well-specified standards that manufacturers can use. The ZigBee Alliance believes connectivity should be easy to implement and sustainable. 

The Wi-Fi Alliance is an international non-profit organization formed to certify the interoperability of 802.11 products and promote them under the Wi-Fi brand. Initially created to establish Wi-Fi as a global standard for wireless LANs (WLAN), the mission of the Wi-Fi Alliance is evolving.

Membership

The two organizations have different membership requirements and fee structures. ZigBee Alliance is open to any company or individual interested in developing or using Zigbee technologies. Some of the members of ZigBee Alliance are Comcast, Ikea, Legrand, Samsung SmartThings, Amazon, etc.

On the other hand, Wi-Fi Alliance is open only to companies already involved in developing or deploying Wi-Fi products and services. Some of the Wi-Fi Alliance members are Apple, Comcast, Samsung, Sony, LG, Intel, Dell, Broadcom, Motorola, and Microsoft.

Target Market

While both groups promote their respective technologies, they have different target markets. The ZigBee Alliance targets its technology more toward industrial and commercial applications, while Wi-Fi Alliance targets its technology more toward consumer electronics and general data communications.

Further Reading

Bottom Line

It sets standards that intend to address the challenges of IoT interoperability, security, and privacy. The standards development process is open and inclusive, and they develop its development in collaboration with leading technology companies.

If you want to know more about ZigBee Alliance and its work, then leave a comment below. We would be happy to provide more information!

Leave a Reply

Looking For An IoT Device Supplier For Your Projects?

CONTACT US

    This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

    IoT Gateways for Recommendation

    CONTACT US

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

      Welcome to DusunIoT

      Hi there 👋 Is there anything we can help you with today? Please fill in the form below for the team to follow up if you become disconnected.

        Download

          This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

          Ultimate IoT White Paper for Developer Gateway

          DusunIoT Distributor Program

            This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

              This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.