To add more features, scalability and larger networks to the original specifications, ZigBee Alliance has approved ZigBee Pro. The ZigBee specification offers all the wide-ranging features released in 2006, and adds new features, giving manufacturers greater flexibility. The original set of features published in 2006 is now known as the ZigBee feature set. An expanded set of features known as ZigBee PRO maximizes all the capabilities of ZigBee and facilitates ease-of-use and advanced support for larger networks.

The newly released feature sets are designed to interoperate with each other, ensuring long-term use and stability. Highlights of the expanded ZigBee PRO feature set include:

• Network scalability — improved support for larger networks offering more management, flexibility and performance choices.

• Fragmentation — new ability to divide longer messages and enable interaction with other protocols and systems.

• Frequency agility — networks dynamically change channels should interference occur.

• Automated device address management — optimized for large networks with added network management and configuration tools.

• Group addressing — offers additional traffic optimization needed for large networks.

• Wireless commissioning — enhanced with secure wireless commissioning capabilities.

• Centralized data collection — tuned specifically to optimize information flow in large networks.

In addition to its original capabilities, the ZigBee feature set also gains optional use of the frequency agility and fragmentation features described above. According to the ZigBee Alliance, access to the updated ZigBee specification is available immediately for all members. Free public availability of the new features is scheduled for early 2008.

For more information, visit www.zigbee.org.