Zooz has joined the Works with Home Assistant program, which is a certification effort run by the Open Home Foundation. The program tests smart home products in-house to make sure they are set up to work well with Home Assistant right out of the box. With this new partnership, Zooz brings a large group of Z-Wave smart home devices to the program, including options for flood protection, smart plugs, relays, lighting switches, and sensors.
Zooz started out as a retailer but shifted to making its own smart devices, focusing on the Z-Wave protocol. Z-Wave is known for its security and for making it easier to connect devices from different brands. Zooz is based in the United States, but its products are sold in many countries. The company is also part of the Z-Wave Alliance, which is a group of companies that support and help grow the Z-Wave standard. Zooz offers help for customers through its website and support team, and it includes simple guides with its devices.
Zooz’s newly certified devices include water leak sensors, a valve actuator for shutting off water, different types of smart plugs for indoor and outdoor use, several types of relays, lighting switches, dimmers, and a range of sensors that can measure things like motion, temperature, humidity, and more. This is one of the largest sets of devices added to the Works with Home Assistant program at one time. These devices are tested for compatibility, and the companies joining the program agree to keep supporting their products with updates.
A main feature of the latest Zooz devices is support for Z-Wave Long Range. In North America, all new Zooz devices offer this as standard. In Europe, Z-Wave Long Range is expected to be available soon through a firmware update. Z-Wave Long Range can help with connecting devices in homes with large yards or layouts where it is hard for wireless signals to reach. Some of these devices are meant for outdoor use or can be made waterproof with the right accessories.
All certified Zooz devices work locally with Home Assistant, which means they do not require a cloud connection or extra apps to function. For users who want remote access or notifications when they are away from home, Home Assistant Cloud is an option. This subscription service not only helps users keep track of their smart home from anywhere but also funds work on the certification program.
The Works with Home Assistant program is different from other smart home certifications since it focuses on making sure products work well out of the box and keep working with updates over time. Zooz joining the program is a move that brings more choice to people using Home Assistant, especially those looking for Z-Wave devices.
View the original press release.
