The Zigbee standard (also known as 802.15.4) has finally been ratified.

Big deal, you say? Zig-what, I hear you cry?

I first wrote about Zigbee about seven months ago, with some enthusiasm, so you're forgiven if you've forgotten. But Zigbee is a low bitrate, very low power standard for powering what I call Always-on sensors.

Until now it has mainly lived in factories and production plants, where the value was high enough to justify the design expense and the fact it might have to be junked in a few years.

But in 2005 it should come directly to you, and from some bigger names (not that Ember's not a big name). Anyone think the folks at Bladox can do something with this? I do.