Freescale Achieves New ZigBee® RF4CE™ Certification

Golden Unit specification ensures quality and full interoperability of future ZigBee RF4CE products

AUSTIN, Texas . – Freescale Semiconductor today announced it has received the new Golden Unit certification by the ZigBee Alliance for its successful implementation of the ZigBee RF4CE specification. Freescale is one of the first ZigBee Alliance members to achieve the Golden Unit status and has been an influential contributor in the development of the ZigBee RF4CE protocol.

Due to limitation of infrared remote controls with large screen, flat panel TVs, and the increased need for richer user-interfaces and new services, RF based remote controls are becoming pervasive in the home entertainment market, creating a greater need for standards. Freescale offers a range of ZigBee RF4CE certified products for original equipment manufacturers (OEM) that require an immediate, low-cost solution for control of applications such as HDTV, set-top boxes and other consumer electronic devices.

ZigBee RF4CE is expected to enable advanced control capabilities (i.e. two-way communication between entertainment devices) to continue to improve the overall usability of home entertainment products. Freescale’s ZigBee RF4CE platform is already deployed in OEM products and Freescale is working with industry leaders in the development of other consumer electronic products.

“Freescale is a pioneer in the development of RF control technology with a range of products designed to meet the unique challenges of consumer electronics manufacturers,” said Brett Black, commercial wireless manager for Freescale. “As a full-service platform provider for OEMs ready to implement ZigBee technology for home control, we are delighted to be one of the first to meet the Golden Unit ZigBee RF4CE requirements.”

ZigBee RF4CE has many advantages over other technologies like IR, Bluetooth® and Wi-Fi® for controlling consumer electronics. The advantages of ZigBee RF4CE include ultra-low power (four times lower than IR remotes), two way communications for upgraded user interfaces and services, and extended range over technologies like Bluetooth. Freescale estimates that in 2009, there will be four million shipments of 802.15.4 based RF transceivers for consumer electronics. With the new standard, the number of ZigBee RF4CE shipments is expected to grow substantially. By 2012, Freescale expects there to be more than 160 million products shipped per year with ZigBee RF4CE technology.

Independent tests were conducted by NTS Corporation, TRaC Telecoms & Radio and TUV Rheinland. The ZigBee Alliance requires Golden Unit certification for all new specifications to ensure the highest standard of quality for future ZigBee RF4CE products. It also supports increased interoperability of platforms developed on this standard, extending the industry adoption of ZigBee RF4CE.

According to Bob Heile, ZigBee Alliance chairman, the Golden Unit specification establishes a wireless platform industry standard for, “consumer electronic manufacturers to create innovative products and features for the consumer that will be secure, low-cost and easy to deploy.” The ZigBee Alliance recently announced the availability of Golden Unit platforms. For more information, click here.

ZigBee RF4CE: More flexibility and control
The ZigBee RF4CE specification is based on IEEE® 802.15.4. MAC/PHY radio technology in the 2.4GHz unlicensed frequency band and enables worldwide operation, low power consumption and instantaneous response time. It allows omni-directional and reliable two-way wireless communication, channel agility for enhanced co-existence with other 2.4GHz wireless technologies, simple secure set-up and configuration. During the next quarter, the Alliance will develop a test program consistent with existing policies for specifications and public application profiles. Once complete, products using a public application profile based on the ZigBee RF4CE specification can be submitted to an authorized test house for certification.

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 worldwide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in consumer electronic, energy, home, commercial and industrial areas. For more information, visit: www.ZigBee.org.