DASH7 Certification Suite provides device integrators with tools to ensure conformance and interoperability with other DASH7 devices

San Ramon, CA, USA – July 7, 2010. The DASH7 Alliance (http://www.dash7.org), a non-profit industry consortium that promotes the use of the ISO 18000-7 standard for wireless sensor networking, today announced the release of the DASH7 Certification Suite, a set of test tools to assist developers building DASH7 hardware products.

The suite includes conformance and interoperability scripts for devices built to the ISO 18000-7 (DASH7) standard that will help ensure interoperability regardless of vendor.     Use of the DASH7 Certification Suite is required to complete official DASH7 Certification testing (launching this fall) and also to use the DASH7 Certified trademark.  The DASH7 Certification Suite is available free of charge to all DASH7 members.

“The DASH7 Certification Suite builds on the conformance and interoperability processes established for passive RFID,” said Ted Osinski, Director of RFID Programs at MET Laboratories.   “Similar to our experience with UHF passive RFID, the importance of a DASH7 test suite cannot be overstated as we now know that ‘self certification’ results in many fatal errors and end users must insist on DASH7 Certification to protect their DASH7 investment.”

A white paper summarizing the results of the March 2010 DASH7 “plugfest” and the importance of interoperability testing is available at http://ht.ly/27kXR.

“The DASH7 Alliance is doubling-down on its commitment to global standards by mandating a single global methodology for conformance and interoperability certification – ISO 18047-7,” said Patrick Burns, President of the DASH7 Alliance.  “Customers who care about standards compliance yet buy products from vendors who use proprietary testing methods or no method are being shortchanged.”

Apply To Become A DASH7 Test and Certification Center

With the release of the DASH7 Certification Suite, the DASH7 Alliance also begins the process of identifying additional test and certification locations outside the United States.  For more information on the process for becoming a DASH7 Test and Certification Center, visit http://ht.ly/27l4w.  DASH7 membership is required for all DASH7 Test and Certification Centers.  For membership information, please visit http://ht.ly/24mFB.

About DASH7 Technology

Products with DASH7 wireless sensor networking capability simplify the way we connect wirelessly with the people, places and things around us.  Operating in the license-free 433 MHz spectrum, DASH7 offers multi-kilometer range, multi-year battery life, sensor and security support, and tag-to-tag communications.  Using single PHY and MAC layers as well as a single global frequency, DASH7 devices are interoperable “out of the box” regardless of application.  DASH7 is the brand given to the ISO 18000-7 standard for active RFID similar to the use of the WiFi brand for IEEE 802.11 communications.

About the DASH7 Alliance

Formed in 2009, the DASH7 Alliance is a non-profit industry consortium with more than 50 participants that promotes the use of the ISO 18000-7 standard for wireless sensor networking.  Device integrators, semiconductor vendors, systems integrators, academia, and end-users all work together to promote the use of DASH7 technology across many industries and applications.  Participating organizations include Analog Devices, Arira Design, Cambridge University, Chung Nam Electronics, Confidex, Damco, DH Technology, Dow, Evigia Systems, Guard RFID, Identec Solutions, KPC, Lockheed Martin, Lyngsoe Systems, Melexis, Michelin, OnAsset Intelligence, Revere Security, RFind, Semtech, Savi Technology, ST Microelectronics, Syrma, Texas Instruments, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Energy, University of Nebraska, and the University of Wisconsin. Membership is open to end users, technology providers and research organizations. For more information, please visit www.dash7.org

Media contact:

Paul Ritchie   (925) 275-6654  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it