The DECT Forum announces security updates of the DECT standard and a formal certification of DECT and CAT-iq devices. These security measures based on state-of-the-art cryptography mitigate attacks on DECT’s authentication and encryption scheme discovered over the past year.
Following research showing that some DECT devices do not use the existing security algorithms to their full extent, new research shows that even when these algorithms are used, calls can sometimes be intercepted1. The DECT Forum, the worldwide association of the home and enterprise communication industry, has worked closely with the researchers of deDECTed.org in designing short-term and long-term countermeasures to all currently known attacks.

The DECT Forum takes the attack scenarios seriously and continues to investigate their applicability in a security task force consisting of representatives from several DECT manufacturers. This task force was set up in collaboration with the researchers of deDECTed. The joint work throughout 2009 has produced a number of short-term improvements within the current DECT standard as well as a security roadmap for integrating state-of-the-art cryptography into the CAT-iq next-generation standard.
The short-term updates to the DECT standard were worked out in close cooperation with ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute) and will be ratified as
early as spring 2010. Furthermore, the DECT Forum is in the process of establishing a formal certification of DECT devices to assure security best practices for DECT implementations based on the formal requirements and latest updates of the standard.

The longer-term improvements in the standard are currently being discussed with ETSI SAGE (Security Algorithms Group of Experts) and deDECTed; details will be
announced once a standard draft is available for public review.
The DECT Forum would like to give special recognition to valuable contributions from the members of the deDECTed group. Going forward the DECT Forum hopes to 
continue this cooperation and draw upon the expertise that the deDECTed members can provide.

The new research by deDECTed.org has been presented at the 26C3 congress in Berlin (December 27-30, 2009).

Allthough using another wireless standard, z-wave, this vendor starts with domotic products for the retail market.

Convenience, safety and energy saving are the basis of the new e-Domotica system by Eminent. The supplier of networking products and computer accessories adopts another course with the advanced home automation system. Instead of separate systems, Eminent offers an integrated solution using the innovative Z-Wave technology. e-Domotica automatically switches on and off devices and secures the house at the same time. The system consists of a control unit with touch screen, switches, alarm devices and surveillance cameras.

Electronic devices react on scenarios
Turn off the lamps in the kitchen and dining room and dim the floor-lamp when watching TV. Obviously, these actions repeat whenever the TV turns on. And so are the actions when having dinner and going to bed. Supplier of networking products and computer accessories Eminent is developing a home automation system that switches electronic devices separately, or together, like in scenarios. Part of the so-called e-Domotica system will be a control unit. This control unit wirelessly connects to e-Domotica switches and dimmers in the house. It is fitted with a touch screen – touch the ‘watching TV’ button and all lamps and electronic devices will switch in accordance with this predefined scenario.

Alarm calls per phone or sms
Next to switching devices, Eminent integrates an advanced alarm system in e-Domotica. Eminent will provide motion detectors and door contacts, that are connected to the control unit. As soon as a motion detector observes motion, e-Domotica alarms the user by email, phone or sms. The door contact is activated when a door or windows opens while nobody is home. Since e-Domotica alarms by phone and sms, the user is notified immediately when burglars break into the house. If an e-Domotica camera is installed, live images are available via the Internet.

Everything under control in the house
Eminent e-Domotica enables consumers to fully check on what is happening at home. Switching devices with the control unit is convenient and it saves energy at the same time. e-Domotica dims multiple lamps at the same time and will never forget to switch off a lamp. It is possible to use time schedules, so that e-Domotica switches off all electronic devices at 11.30pm. These features plus the integrated alarm function results into a complete, reliable and innovative system.

Available from September 2009
Eminent e-Domotica uses Z-Wave technology and has a multilingual user interface. Various members of the Dutch TKH Group have coordinated efforts for the Eminent e-Domotica project. As a result, Eminent has the opportunity to launch a system, combining technical knowledge with a consumer oriented approach. Eminent e-Domotica will be introduced on the Dutch market in September 2009 and is expected to be available on other European markets in January 2010.

The DECT Forum, the worldwide association of the home and enterprise communication industry, is pleased to host the first CAT-iq Developer Conference in Sophia Antipolis (France) from October 22-23, 2009. The online registration for this DECT Forum event in collaboration with ETSI/Forapolis and Jakajima is open now. Please visit the dedicated website at www.catiqdeveloperconference.org and read more about benefits for delegates, speakers, sponsorship and exhibition, and high-level networking opportunities.

The CAT-iq Developer Conference 2009 is mainly focused on technical aspects of the CAT-iq technology and standard, and is targeted to hardware/software developers and engineers but also to interested marketing and business development representatives of the industry. The conference agenda covers two main areas related to the latest CAT-iq development: the standardization and certification of CAT-iq products, new markets and applications for future CAT-iq devices. Delegates of the conference will learn more about the latest design and deployment of CAT-iq profiles 1.0, 2.0 and 3.0, about platforms, reference systems, and test tools, about software environment and support and will get an outlook into CAT-iq future scenarios.

For more information about the conference program, registration and pricing, sponsoring and promotion opportunities, and the networking event at the first day of the conference, please visit the event site or contact the DECT Forum Secretariat directly.

About CAT-iq Certification Program
The CAT-iq certification program promotes CAT-iq to market stakeholders as a technically credible implementation of conformity to a set of standards that will add value to their industry/lives. It ensures interoperability of devices from multiple manufacturers for functionalities defined in CAT-iq. Furthermore the certification program ensures a mandatory level of quality requirement for specific product parameters to achieve consistent user experience of the different stakeholders. All manufacturers, test houses, certification laboratories, and further interested companies, who intent to test and certify CAT-iq devices, will be able to purchase the certification test equipment.

CAT-iq is a registered trademark (in 47 countries worldwide) owned by the DECT Forum, it references features and procedures to corresponding ETSI specifications. Only end products can be approved through the certification program (fixed part and/or portable part). Application for CAT-iq certification is restricted to Full members of the DECT Forum. Please find an overview of the CAT-iq certification program at the site.

About DECT Forum
The DECT Forum is the international industry association of the home and enterprise communication industry. With more than 800 million devices sold and growing by more than 80 million devices per year, DECT, DECT 6.0 and CAT-iq are worldwide-adopted technologies with high relevance for wireless voice and broadband home and enterprise communication. The DECT Forum is located in Berne, Switzerland. Full members of the DECT Forum are currently: Ascom, AVM, CCT, Deutsche Telekom, DSP Group, Gigaset Communications, GN Netcom, Infineon, Panasonic, Philips, Plantronics, Polycom, RTX, Sagem, SiTel, SGW Electronics, Snom, Swissvoice, Thomson, Uniden, Vtech.
Also visit

www.dect.org

www.cat-iq.org

blog.cat-iq.org

• Introduction: CAT-iq profiles 1.0, 2.0, 3.0
• HW components (supplier and systems): chip-sets, platforms, reference systems, test-tools, development tools for enabling new products
• Software Components (supplier and systems): support, API, which SW environment / operating system is supporting CAT-iq?
• CAT-iq Standardization (ETSI standards, associated test specification) and certification process, test equipment
• CAT-iq systems, building blocks
• Complexities around development of new software and hardware
• Lessons Learned - implementation examples (e.g. phones, digital picture frame, internet radio) 
• CAT-iq in the enterprise environment (use cases, challenges, specifics, future)
• CAT-iq in the US (FCC regulation) 
• CAT-iq ecosystem as mediator between CAT-iq platform and new applications
• Challenges for CAT-iq in new markets, e.g.
  • Smart metering
  • Home Automation, M2M
  • Entertainment
    

• Panel discussion: Quo Vadis CAT-iq – shall CAT-iq be extended to become a member of IMT advanced? operators’ view on CAT-iq

Contributions: Call for paper and panel discussion. We invite contributions from DECT Forum members, partners and other interested companies and associations with experience of, or interests in the different topics of interest. Submission categories include: abstract, presentation paper, HW/SW demonstrators (highly appreciated) and a poster (optional).

Instructions for abstract, presentation, posters and demonstrators:
The abstract as base for the submission of a paper should contain the title, author(s) name(s) and picture(s), email address of the corresponding author and the involved company (ies) followed by a short summary of not more than 250 words, which clearly summarizes the presentation paper and its key messages.  Additionally the abstract should roughly describe demonstrator material, which will be shown during the presentation and how it will be presented.

The presentation paper is based on Microsoft Powerpoint. It should contain 10 – 15 slides
(30 min. presentation plus Q&A) including title, author(s) name(s), company (ies) and an outline.
The poster (optional) should reflect title and key message(s) of the presentation. It will be presented in the exhibition area. The production of the poster (DIN A1) can be self-organized or ordered to a DF supplier (on own costs).

Contribution papers for the panel discussion should contain the speaker’s name and picture, email address of the speaker and the involved company (ies) and roughly describe the core statement (not more than 250 words). 
The abstracts will be made available on the conference homepage. The presentation paper will be made available for download for the participants after the conference.

Contributions can now be submitted by email to the the following address.