The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies deploying Z-Wave, announced the winter winner of its global IoT developer competition. Nu Tech Software Solutions Inc, an automation and process control firm based in Oregon, has taken the prize with AlarmDecoder and will receive Z-Wave Alliance membership and access to the new Z-Wave IoT ready 500 series development kits.

AlarmDecoder from Nu Tech Software Solutions connects to an existing alarm panel and allows users to remotely alarm/disarm their alarm systems and detect openings or closing of set zones directly from their home automation system. The self-monitoring device allows users to control their alarm system with a virtual keypad from a desktop, phone or tablet and read the alarm status and receive notifications from motion sensors.

“Security is one of the most valuable factors to consumers and is often the first step to adopting smart home tech,” said Mitchell Klein, executive director of the Z-Wave Alliance. “AlarmDecoder’s remote monitoring feature gives users a taste of smart home by adding to an existing home security panel, and the integration of Z-Wave will make this feature more accessible to homeowners by enabling the product to work with a large ecosystem of devices.”

AlarmDecoder’s open alarm interface supports 80 percent of alarm systems currently available in the U.S. With the Z-Wave Labs contest win, Nu Tech Software Solutions plans to integrate the product with Z-Wave to extend its connectivity to other controllers. 

“Because it supports many smart home platforms, Z-Wave is the most desirable option to integrate into our product” said Sean Mathews, director of research and development at Nu Tech Software Solutions. “Adding Z-Wave technology to AlarmDecoder will allow more users to monitor their security systems with home control.”