The next-generation Z-Wave 700 protocol can now be found on the Wireless Gecko platform from Silicon Labs. The new smart home platform builds on Z-Wave’s industry-leading S2 security and interoperability by improving energy efficiency and adding higher performance, longer range RF capabilities. By leveraging the Wireless Gecko platform, Z-Wave 700 is said to enable developers to create new classes of smaller, more intelligent smart home products at a lower cost and faster time-to-market.
Z-Wave 700 combines a powerful ARM processor-based platform with large on-chip memory to 
enable greater intelligence at the edge and secure inclusion in less than one second. The energy-efficient Z-Wave 700 platform delivers ten-year coin-cell battery life, enabling more wireless sensor applications. Enhanced RF performance seamlessly extends Z-Wave 700 device range beyond traditional limits to the edge of the yard and throughout a multi-story home.
Z-Wave 700 builds on core Z-Wave features to enable interoperability with thousands of devices and ensure best-in-class security with built-in Security 2 (S2). Z-Wave 700 also includes SmartStart, providing an easy way to automatically create and configure Z-Wave networks for instant device installation success.
“We have built the groundbreaking Z-Wave 700 platform with an eye to the future and an ear to our ecosystem partners who can deploy this long-range, low-power and future-proof platform for their new smart home applications,” said Raoul Wijgergangs, Vice President and General Manager of Z-Wave for Silicon Labs. “Developers can now take advantage of the advanced platform features combined with Z-Wave’s renowned interoperability, industry-leading S2 security and SmartStart installation.”
With no requirements for regionalized SAW filters or external memory, Z-Wave 700 offers a single global software stock-keeping unit (SKU) for easier logistics and cost-effective global production. By reducing BOM cost, Z-Wave 700 speeds development of global smart home products.
Silicon Labs offers a wide range of development tools to enable easier, faster smart home product design. Developers benefit from low-cost developer kits, energy profiler tools and ready-made gateway software with certified reference code, minimizing the time from prototype to final product. Developers can also use Silicon Labs’ Simplicity Studio development suite for one-click access to all the software tools they need to simplify Z-Wave 700-based designs.
Z-Wave 700 is shipping pre-orders now to 150 beta customers within the Z-Wave Alliance, and production quantities are planned to be available in late Q1 2019. For more information about Z-Wave products, visit silabs.com/z-wave.
Silicon Labs, 2ND Street District, Austin, TX, (512) 416-8500
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