CALIFORNIA, USA — The Z-Wave Alliance, an international consortium of companies that oversee the world's largest interoperable ecosystem for wireless control products and services, today announced that it has expanded its global reach to Japan, a move that coincides with the newly approved radio frequency range for low-power RF device usage in that country. As a result, Z-Wave-based control and automation devices for smart homes and small business can be now used in the Japanese market without the need for radio station licensing.
“This is another important step in our continued growth and world market leadership,” stated Mark Walters, Chairman at the Z-Wave Alliance. “The new radio band for low-power RF device usage for control and automation applications in Japan will provide our members with the opportunity to expand their business into this vital new market. The newly allocated band is already supported by hardware platforms from Alliance members Sigma Designs and Mitsumi Electric Company.”
With the Japanese ruling now official, the Alliance immediately announced the first Z-Wave Certified products for this new band, a commercial LED controller and dimmer from IWATSU Electric Company Ltd. that will save energy in commercial lighting applications. “While other control and automation technologies are still ‘examining’ this market, Z-Wave Alliance members are shipping products,” stated Mr. Walters This announcement comes fast on the heels of the Alliance's 650th certified product announced in June of this year. These certifications further demonstrate the rapid worldwide growth of Z-Wave as the key enabler of the “Internet of Things.”
The Z-Wave Alliance also announced that it has named industry veteran, Hitoshi Kubota, as the Z-Wave Alliance Evangelist in Japan. Mr.Kubota has more than 40 years of professional experience in the computer and network industry. Most recently he served as the senior advisor for companies in energy management industry as Smart Grid Architect. Mr. Kubota will work to ensure Z-Wave's rapid adoption in the Japanese market and its use to solve important challenges in energy, aging and other automation and control applications.
Z-Wave Evangelists are respected industry representatives and spokespersons for the Z-Wave Alliance. Z-Wave Evangelist serve as main regional contacts for media relations, industry events, conferences, speaking engagements, recruiting, and as implementers of Z-Wave Alliance related programs.
