FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ON World software tool simulates popular WSN technologies in specific applications to provide quantifiable market data and unbiased analysis for making purchasing decisions, establishing partners, and verifying technology claims

San Diego, Calif., November 12, 2008 -- In order to reduce the cost of comparing wireless sensor network (WSN) platforms, ON World has developed a software tool that uses virtual simulations in order to provide quantifiable market data on competitors, partners, suppliers, and potential investments.

One of the challenges that WSN researchers and developers have is testing the enormous amount of variations for the wireless sensing components that make up a WSN node. In order to better analyze the power consumption and performance needs of individual nodes in specific applications, ON World created the wsnSimulator™. This simulator interchanges WSN hardware components, payloads, processors, sensors, harvesters, and batteries while factoring in unique operational parameters for each of the fore mentioned parts. The software runs these virtual hardware nodes within one of several WSN networks such as 802.15, ZigBee, Z-Wave, and WiFi. It factors in neighborhood nodes and overlapping networks to analyze transmission collisions, latency, and dropped packets among other network factors.

ON World's director of research Mareca Hatler said, "WSN technologies today are maturing with new entrants and improved networking solutions appearing every few months. To stay up-to-date with these rapidly evolving technologies, companies invest significant resources each year on products unsuited to their applications. Using the wsnSimulator™, we provide companies with quick, affordable research on the strengths and weaknesses of competing alternatives before making costly purchasing decisions."

As a market research firm with no ties to any particular company or technology, ON World's WSN simulations and analysis provide customers and clients with quantifiable market data and unbiased verification of their technology. For example, recent simulations show which applications make sense to use energy harvesters versus batteries for several radios/protocols such as ZigBee, Z-Wave, TSMP, Sampled Listening, and WiFi. To demonstrate the power consumption and performance of popular WSN radios and protocols in common application areas, ON World publishes a series of general market research reports called "Technology PowerShots."

Examples of the kinds of tests provided in these reports include:

• Impact of power management techniques such as node synchronization and Sampled Listening, beaconing, on-node processing, and "batch and send"
• Average power and power distribution
• Battery lifetimes of end nodes and routers in specific applications
• Transmission rate impact
• Payload impact
• Required power source sizes
• Effects of obstructions on range
• Power source (batteries/energy harvesters) costs per year

For more information, go to: http://onworld.com/powershot/

About ON World:
ON World Inc. provides world class business intelligence on smart technology markets. Our research reports and information services are sold to Fortune 1000 companies, startups, and investors worldwide. More information is available from http://www.onworld.com.

Media Contact:
Mary E. Purvis
email: purvis at onworld.com
ph: 858-259-2397