However, most of these networks also need a "primary" device that serves as a network controller. If the primary device drops out of service, another device can often take over. Interfaces with smartphones or tablets can be handled by hubs, commercially available devices that are often compatible with two or more of these standards, as well as with Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
"You have to have a hub to connect with the home network" for most of these protocols, said Tom Kerber, director of research, home controls and energy for Dallas-based market-research firm Parks Associates. "Hubs used to be $200, but now they come on USB sticks, cost $10 and plug into the back of the router."
Fortunately, many widely sold hubs can communicate with devices using two or more of these standards, allowing customers to mix 'n' match to some extent. But let's look at the differences among them.
From the article "ZigBee, Z-Wave, Thread and WeMo: What's the Difference?" by Kevin Parrish.
To get a sense of how big the MDU market is, Parks Associates research reveals that 34% of US broadband households are MDU residents. After reading that it’s roughly one in three, I suppose that makes...
Parks Associates projects the number of U.S. households using ad-supported streaming services will reach 52 million in 2027, a compound annual growth rate of 67%. From the article, "Churn, Churn, C...
Research by Parks Associates, published in January, revealed that 87 per cent of US households subscribe to at least one streaming service. Parks Associates also predicts annual sports streaming subsc...
Prime Video said in 2021 that it had over 200 million paying customers, and at the end of last year, market intelligence firm Parks Associates reported that it had the largest American subscriber base...
