Recently Actiontec officially announced its new lines of Z-Wave Home Automation Controllers - zControl. It gives you the ability to automatically add consumer devices to the network such as IP cameras, thermostats, powered shades, garage doors or lights, and then control them, not only from any location in your home, but anywhere in the world where you can access the Internet. The setup procedure is extremely simple. Just add zControl to your home network, press the button on its front panel and the corresponding button on the Z-Wave device. The chosen device will be automatically added to the home Z-Wave network. To provide an universal way for device management zControl includes a web interface. Thanks to that the interface can be accessed from any Internet-enabled PC anywhere in the world or from most mobile phones with a special service package available from Actiontec.
As you might see the zControl demonstrates a new point of view to HA directed to consumers and not to professional installators. That first version is needed a separate router but the next generation will contain it as well. It might be a good opportunity for Service Providers who can offer home automation service together with Internet broadband, VoIP and IPTV.
The standalone Actiontec zControl Starter Kit will be available at producer’s web site next month at $399 including the zControl unit, one indoor camera with motion detector, one lighting control module and a remote control. zControl-enabled wireless gateways and routers will be released in March.
[via Electronic House]
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