NXP Semiconductors announced a partnership with Xiaomi, a global leader in wireless connectivity and security solutions. The agreement will see NXP provide its latest innovative low power wireless connectivity solution for the new Xiaomi Smart Home Suite.

Xiaomi has adopted NXP’s JN516x ZigBee low-power wireless solution to power the connectivity of the Smart Home Suite. The suite consists of four wireless products: a motion sensor; door and window sensors; a wireless switching device for controlling appliances; and a multifunctional gateway that wirelessly links all the components together using ZigBee WiFi interconnectivity.

“We are delighted to cooperate with Xiaomi, one of China’s most innovative companies,” said NXP China CEO Li Zheng. “With the rapid development of the Internet of Things (IoT), secure connectivity becomes ever more crucial. Our mission is to enable secure connections for a smarter world and the smart home is a core part of that vision. We are committed to developing world-class IoT smart home solutions to fit the specific needs of users in China.”

According to Juniper Research, the global smart home market will reach $71 billion by 2018. China is expected to account for 32% of the overall smart home market. NXP and Xiaomi are playing a significant role in bringing secure smart home technologies and services to the people of China.

In recent years, Xiaomi has invested heavily in developing and expanding its smart life ecosystem. The Smart Home Suite is developed by the Shenzhen Lumi United Technology Co., Ltd., a new company funded by Xiaomi. Eugene Yo, CEO, Shenzen Lumi United Technology, believes NXP’s low-power wireless solution, JN516x ZigBee, is the ideal solution to provide connectivity for the Smart Home Suite, minimizing the size of the interconnectivity sensors required and making the end product more attractive to consumers – a view that is shared by Xiaomi.

“The roll-out of the Xiaomi Smart Home Suite marks a significant expansion of the Xiaomi ecosystem,” said Bin Lin, Co-founder and President of Xiaomi. “We chose NXP’s ZigBee technologies following an evaluation of best-in-class solutions. We were impressed with its ability to bring the scale and secure connectivity required to meet our ambitious objectives. We look forward to a long and productive relationship with NXP.”

NXP recently unveiled its new JN516x micro router for smart home solutions featuring high performance, low power and long distance connectivity. JN516x’s convenience, reliability and cost advantages make it the most comprehensive solution on the market.

It is the first smart home product that provides optional short-range NFC-commissioning functionality enabling consumers to establish tap-and-go connectivity. The solution includes a software protocol stack supporting certified ZigBee, LightLink, Home Automation and GreenPower capabilities. It is also able to support up to 250 nodes, making it suitable for large home and industry environments.