Exponential Growth for 802.15.4 and ZigBee

Adoption for 802.15.4 and ZigBee chipsets is accelerating in several industries, according to ON World. Last year, 7 million 802.15.4 and ZigBee chips were sold worldwide, an increase of 1,400 percent from 2004.

"The ZigBee mesh network protocol is driving adoption in large volume Wireless Sensor Network markets such as advanced metering infrastructure, building automation, and home automation and controls," according to Mareca Hatler, Director of Research. "ZigBee is showing up in innovations such as real-time location systems, vending machine management, and point-of-sale systems."



ZigBee is the most popular low data rate wireless technology and respondents in ON World's recent survey with WSN experts indicate that ZigBee makes up 44 percent of current and planned WSN products.

802.15.4

The low power, robust 15.4 radio is hugely successful for Wireless Sensor Networking as well as many other low data rate wireless solutions. In addition to ZigBee, 15.4 is used in industrial protocols such as WirelessHart and ISA100. The IETF's 6LoWPAN for IP based sensing and control is also based on 15.4 with support from Cisco and innovative startup Arch Rock.

The largest markets for 15.4 today feature simple low data rate wireless networking, often without the need for complex mesh networking. Many of these are one-of-a kind solutions such as audience response systems and scoreboards at sporting events. Potentially high volume 15.4 markets include toys, games, and remote controls for multimedia equipment.