Sigma Designs makes secure interoperability easy with Z-Wave SmartStart

Sigma Designs, provider of intelligent SoC solutions for smart TV and IoT for smart home, announced the availability of Z-Wave SmartStart, comprising the new Z-Wave protocol and Z-Wave gateway software layers, which improve installation and enable uniform out-of-the-box set-up of Z-Wave smart home devices.

Z-Wave SmartStart pre-configures devices to the network before they reach home, dramatically reducing installation time, and thereby costs, to maximize return on investment (ROI) for installers and remove difficulty of DIY installations for homeowners.

SmartStart simplifies installation of Z-Wave devices and solves the industry’s barriers to adoption including user error, integration complexity, and product returns due to faulty install. For service providers, SmartStart reduces the time technicians spend in each home, which is critical to maximizing ROI and reaching more customers.

With Z-Wave SmartStart, pre-configuration enables shorter installation processes, so the installer only needs to physically mount the devices and power on to automatically create the network. Also, it uniforms setup of devices across brand, application and product type.

“Studies have shown the primary reason that consumers return a smart home device is due to setup difficulty. We’re removing that barrier to adoption with Z-Wave SmartStart, so that any combination from the Z-Wave ecosystem for an experience of consistent installation quality is possible using pre-configuration for instant, uniform integration,” said Raoul Wijgergangs, Vice President Z-Wave Business Unit for Sigma Designs.

Z-Wave SmartStart utilizes Z-Wave Security 2 (S2) framework, which provides the most advanced security for smart home devices, controllers, gateways, and hubs. By securing communication both locally for home-based devices, and in the hub or gateway for cloud functions, S2 completely removes the risk of devices being hacked while they are included in the network. Since it is built into the protocol, manufacturers can integrate StartStart and S2 in products in an interoperable way, without needing to collaborate with other device manufacturers.

“The combination is a game changer, both for the DIY market as it accelerates smart home in retail, and for the service provider channel by giving installers a unique value proposition that increases productivity and decreases costs,” said Wijgergangs. “We’re making it a no-brainer for manufacturers to implement SmartStart and S2, thus expediting adoption and creating a broad selection of devices in the ecosystem – giving choices without having to worry about the interoperability and cybersecurity.”