ZigBee Alliance Begins Development of ZigBee Retail Services

New standard will modernize retailer operations and enrich the shopping experience for consumers

SAN RAMON, California, January 25 - The ZigBee(R) Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless
solutions for use in energy management, residential, commercial and consumer
electronics applications, today announced it has started development of
ZigBee Retail Services(TM), a new standard focusing on the retail experience
from point-of-manufacture to point-of-sale. This effort is expected to
utilize the wide range of ZigBee's existing profile capabilities, fully
leverage the advantages of ZigBee's open global solution set, and add
significant new capabilities to improve the retail supply chain. Focus on
this key market area is expected to result in substantial new product and
service opportunities.

(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091005/SF86596LOGO)

ZigBee Retail Services public application profile can be used across the
retail sector. The anticipated result for the retail market is a significant
improvement in quality and supply chain management and efficiency, in
addition to enhanced customer satisfaction. It will define applications for
mobile terminals and offer plug-in modules to simplify adoption. The ZigBee
Retail Services public application profile will define a standard methodology
for delivering a variety of services, including:

    - In-store Information - Collection, delivery, selection, data sharing
      with customers, in-store and mobile payment retail applications.

    - Location Based Services - Tracking, arrival alerts and item location
      assistance.

    - Retail At Home - Establish a wireless network in customer homes for
      shopping, inventory levels, order availability and a sales process
      engine.

    - Retail Assistance Device - Support for voice capable employee and
      customer devices in a variety of retail environments.

    - Health Care - Provide well being, drug interactions, refill orders,
      refill availability, alerts and recalls.

    - Supply Chain Management - Warehouse management, cold chain management
      and inventory management providing end-to-end production to customer
      delivery.

    - Regulatory Compliance - In-store security and monitoring, retail
      regulatory compliance and freshness tracking for food, pharmaceuticals
      and other perishables.

    - Energy Management - Sensors designed to monitor and reduce energy
      consumption and improve total building management.

"ZigBee Retail Services will change today's shopping experience by
delivering new services for consumers and retailers alike," said Bob Heile,
chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. " ZigBee Retail Services will leverage
ZigBee's many public application profiles as well as define new capabilities
to create easy-to-use tools for consumers that make every day shopping
easier, more interactive and enjoyable. Retailers will be able to increase
quality and improve overall efficiency of operations while delivering an
innovative consumer experience."

A number of innovative companies are engaged in developing the ZigBee
Retail Services Standard. The ZigBee Alliance is an open organization. Any
company wishing to be a part of this process and be on the forefront of the
standards development activity is encouraged to join
(www.zigbee.org/Join/HowtoJoin/tabid/239/Default.aspx) the Alliance
today as a Participant member. Ideal members include, but are certainly not
limited to, retailers, distributors, companies involved in portable/mobile
handheld devices, point-of-sale, carts, refrigeration, HVAC, lighting,
building control systems, supply chain management and logistic supply.

ZigBee Retail Services will be the Alliance's seventh public application
profile when completed. Profiles available today include ZigBee Smart
Energy(TM), ZigBee Home Automation(TM), ZigBee Remote Control(TM) and ZigBee
Health Care(TM). ZigBee Telecom Services(TM) and ZigBee Building
Automation(TM) are in development.

ZigBee: Control your world

ZigBee is the global wireless language connecting dramatically different
devices to work together and enhance everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a
non-profit association of more than 340 members driving development of ZigBee
wireless technology. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as
the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in
consumer electronic, energy, home, commercial and industrial areas. For more
information, visit: www.ZigBee.org.

Kevin Schader of ZigBee Alliance, +1-925-275-6672, kschader at inventures.com; or Earlene Tang of GolinHarris, +1-714-918-8215, etang at golinharris.com, for ZigBee Alliance