ZigBee Selected by Continua Health Alliance for Next Generation Guidelines

SAN RAMON, California - Wireless Standard added to Continua Health Alliance Design Guidelines

The ZigBee(R) Alliance announced today that the Continua Health Alliance has endorsed ZigBee Health Care as Continua’s new low power local area network (LAN) standard. ZigBee Health Care offers interference-free wireless connectivity, supporting thousands of devices on a single network. Continua recommends ZigBee for sensing and control in professional settings, homes, recreation centers and across large campuses. Continua Health Alliance is the leading non-profit coalition of major health care and technology companies in the industry.

For the Continua Health Alliance Design Guidelines, ZigBee Health Care offers secure, robust, battery-efficient wireless connectivity for patient activity and facilities monitoring while delivering the freedom of wireless operation outside of buildings. ZigBee peacefully coexists with other wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi, a critical requirement for patient safety and use in health care facilities. ZigBee Health Care runs on a wide-range of cost-effective and certified silicon platforms already available from many of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers.

“Continua’s selection of ZigBee Health Care follows a rigorous technical review and seeing firsthand the ability of ZigBee Health Care to meet the requirements set forth by the Continua Health Alliance,” said Rick Cnossen, Continua Health Alliance president and chairman of the Board of Directors. “ZigBee Health Care can be utilized around the world in a wide variety of settings and is particularly well suited for use in low-power LAN applications.”

Products using the standard will help ageing and physically challenged people remain independent. It also features the security required to protect personal data and conform to regulatory policies.

“As one of the leading companies in health care, Philips anticipates the use of ZigBee Health Care in a variety of products,” said Paul Coebergh van den Braak, senior director at Royal Philips Electronics and a member of the Continua Board of Directors. “ZigBee Health Care offers a comprehensive standard for both personal monitoring and use along with medical facility use.”

ZigBee Health Care devices can interact with other ZigBee wireless technologies already deployed in consumer electronics, home automation and commercial building automation.

“The ZigBee Alliance looks forward to a long and productive relationship with the Continua Health Alliance and appreciates their selection of ZigBee Health Care for inclusion in the Continua Health Alliance Design Guidelines,” said Dr. Robert F. Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. “ZigBee Health Care is ready for product manufacturer use today and is backed by a strong ecosystem of suppliers offering certified platforms to suit any device need.”

ZigBee Health Care - The Standard for Monitoring Your Health, Wellness and Fitness

More broadly, ZigBee Health Care provides a global, open standard for interoperable wireless devices enabling secure monitoring and management of noncritical, low-acuity healthcare services targeted at chronic disease management, obesity and ageing. It provides full support for IEEE 11073 devices. The standard is designed for use in homes, fitness centers, retirement communities, nursing homes and a variety of medical care facilities. It meets the requirements of consumers, service providers, care providers, payers, product manufacturers and policymakers. ZigBee Health Care certified products can interact with other ZigBee certified products found in residential and commercial settings. Visit www.zigbee.org/healthcare for more information.

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 300 member companies 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 electronics, energy, health care, home, commercial and industrial areas. For more information, visit: www.zigbee.org.

Source: ZigBee Alliance

Kevin Schader of ZigBee Alliance, +1-925-275-6672, kschader at inventures.com; or Katherine Manning of GolinHarris, +1-213-438-8788, kmanning at golinharris.com, for ZigBee Alliance