SAN RAMON, California, June 8 /PRNewswire/ --

- Wireless Standard added to Continua Health Alliance Design Guidelines

The ZigBee(R) Alliance announced today that the Continua Health Alliance
has endorsed ZigBee Health Care as Continua's new low power local area
network (LAN) standard. ZigBee Health Care offers interference-free wireless
connectivity, supporting thousands of devices on a single network. Continua
recommends ZigBee for sensing and control in professional settings, homes,
recreation centers and across large campuses. Continua Health Alliance is the
leading non-profit coalition of major health care and technology companies in
the industry.

For the Continua Health Alliance Design Guidelines, ZigBee Health Care
offers secure, robust, battery-efficient wireless connectivity for patient
activity and facilities monitoring while delivering the freedom of wireless
operation outside of buildings. ZigBee peacefully coexists with other
wireless technologies, including Wi-Fi, a critical requirement for patient
safety and use in health care facilities. ZigBee Health Care runs on a
wide-range of cost-effective and certified silicon platforms already
available from many of the world's largest semiconductor manufacturers.

"Continua's selection of ZigBee Health Care follows a rigorous technical
review and seeing firsthand the ability of ZigBee Health Care to meet the
requirements set forth by the Continua Health Alliance," said Rick Cnossen,
Continua Health Alliance president and chairman of the Board of Directors.
"ZigBee Health Care can be utilized around the world in a wide variety of
settings and is particularly well suited for use in low-power LAN
applications."

Products using the standard will help ageing and physically challenged
people remain independent. It also features the security required to protect
personal data and conform to regulatory policies.

"As one of the leading companies in health care, Philips anticipates the 
use of ZigBee Health Care in a variety of products," said Paul Coebergh van 
den Braak, senior director at Royal Philips Electronics and a member of the 
Continua Board of Directors. "ZigBee Health Care offers a comprehensive 
standard for both personal monitoring and use along with medical facility 
use."

ZigBee Health Care devices can interact with other ZigBee wireless
technologies already deployed in consumer electronics, home automation and
commercial building automation.

"The ZigBee Alliance looks forward to a long and productive relationship 
with the Continua Health Alliance and appreciates their selection of ZigBee 
Health Care for inclusion in the Continua Health Alliance Design Guidelines," 
said Dr. Robert F. Heile, chairman of the ZigBee Alliance. "ZigBee Health 
Care is ready for product manufacturer use today and is backed by a strong 
ecosystem of suppliers offering certified platforms to suit any device need."

ZigBee Health Care - The Standard for Monitoring Your Health, Wellness
and Fitness

More broadly, ZigBee Health Care provides a global, open standard for
interoperable wireless devices enabling secure monitoring and management of
noncritical, low-acuity healthcare services targeted at chronic disease
management, obesity and ageing. It provides full support for IEEE 11073
devices. The standard is designed for use in homes, fitness centers,
retirement communities, nursing homes and a variety of medical care
facilities. It meets the requirements of consumers, service providers, care
providers, payers, product manufacturers and policymakers. ZigBee Health Care
certified products can interact with other ZigBee certified products found in
residential and commercial settings. Visit www.zigbee.org/healthcare for more
information.

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 world-wide adoption of 
ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for 
use in consumer electronics, energy, health care, home, commercial and 
industrial areas. For more information, visit: www.zigbee.org.