Digi International today introduced DigiMesh on 900MHz and 2.4GHz XBee embedded RF modules. DigiMesh is an advanced peer-to-peer mesh networking protocol optimized for battery powered networks that simplifies mesh networks while providing advanced features such as sleeping routers and support for dense networks. It will be offered in addition to existing XBee point-to-multipoint and ZigBee mesh networking solutions as part of Digi's comprehensive Drop-in Networking product line.

"DigiMesh combines outstanding networking performance with ease of deployment and scalability," said Larry Kraft, senior vice president of global sales and marketing, Digi International. "It was designed to overcome the specific limitations of other mesh networking protocols in applications requiring a battery powered network like wireless sensor networking, building automation and tank monitoring."

DigiMesh is a peer-to-peer mesh protocol that can be deployed on a variety of Digi products. In other mesh architectures, devices are often divided into a parent-child relationship of parent routers which provide "traffic cop" functions and end devices such as sensors. These routers often cannot be put into a sleeping state and therefore must be plugged into a power source. With DigiMesh there is no parent-child architecture. All devices can be put into a sleeping state to conserve power and all can simultaneously be a router and end device. This is especially critical for situations where sensors or devices being managed are far from a sustainable power source and require the use of battery and/or power-harvesting technology. This one device type architecture also simplifies application development and deployment while improving scalability.

DigiMesh joins other XBee protocols including IEEE 802.15.4, the ZigBee- PRO Feature Set and multiple proprietary long-range protocols. DigiMesh is currently available on extended-range 900 MHz and globally deployable 2.4 GHz XBee modules. It will also be available across Digi's Drop-in Networking solutions, including XBee adapters, network extenders and gateways in the fourth quarter of 2008. This product extensibility allows customers to match the best hardware solution for their application and empower it with DigiMesh networking functionality.

DigiMesh 2.4 GHz XBee development kits are now available for a promotional price of $189 (US$269 MSRP), and DigiMesh 900 MHz XBee development kits for a promotional price of $199 (US$299 MSRP).