HomePlug AV Specification Enters Final Stage; The First Global Specification for a 200-Mbps-class Powerline-Networking Technology is Now Ready for Final Industry Input

Business Wire, Oct 13, 2004

SAN RAMON, Calif. -- The HomePlug(R) Powerline Alliance, Inc. is entering the final stage of the specification development process for HomePlug AV, a technology poised to change the way that HDTV, Digital Audio, and Internet access are distributed around a home. The alliance has reached a significant milestone by completing the advanced preliminary specification for HomePlug AV, and is now inviting companies in the home networking, consumer electronics, computing, and communications industries to join the alliance and contribute to the final version of the specification.

"This is a truly great technology that has broad applications both inside and outside of the home," commented Oleg Logvinov, president of the alliance and president and CEO of Arkados, Inc. "With HomePlug AV, people will be able to transfer high-definition video and digital audio by simply connecting the device to an electrical outlet. The technology inside is complex, but it is designed to be incredibly easy-to-use."

The advanced preliminary specification for HomePlug AV technology is the result of a combined effort of several leading proponents of powerline technologies. After laboratory tests and field trials bore out the best-in-class methods from submitted technologies, the alliance combined contributions from several proponents into a single baseline technology. By melding the best methods, the alliance established a baseline superior to any of the individual proposals. Following the creation of the baseline technology, the alliance created the advanced preliminary specification now being released to the alliance's Specification Working Group (SWG) for further input.

"HomePlug AV will serve as the digital media networking backbone for the emerging broadband digital home," said Peter Kempf, vice president of marketing, Wireless and Residential Gateway Access Products for Conexant. "Robust whole house coverage combined with strong quality of service to deliver HDTV distinguishes HomePlug AV from the other media networking technologies and creates a ubiquitous digital media experience in the home."

The advanced preliminary specification for HomePlug AV is the result of a combined effort of leading proponents of powerline technologies. HomePlug AV will deliver the following benefits:

--200-Mbps class networking, enough to carry multiple HDTV programs around a house

--An advanced Physical Layer that offers near-capacity throughput performance and exceptional coverage for robust communications over noisy power line channels

--A high-efficiency MAC layer that incorporates both scheduled access (TDMA) with Quality of Service (QoS) guarantees, and contention access (CSMA). Features that are a must for the demands of multi-media content delivery include guaranteed bandwidth reservation, tight control of latency and jitter, and high reliability.

--Advanced Network Management functions and facilities capable of supporting plug-and-play, user and service provider set-up and configuration

--Co-existence modes enabling Broadband over Powerline (BPL) co-existence, multi-network operation, hidden node service, and backward compatibility with HomePlug 1.0

"Building on the proven performance of HomePlug 1.0, HomePlug AV will set a new standard for the distribution of digital media in the home," said Charlie Harris, chairman and chief executive officer of Intellon Corporation. "Nothing on the horizon can match the reliable whole house performance, quality of service, ease of use and number of convenient outlets offered by HomePlug AV."

All current sponsors and participant-level members of the alliance are invited to join the Specification Working Group (SWG), which is holding its first meeting on Wednesday October 27th and Friday October 28th in Dallas, Texas.

For those companies interested in joining the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and contributing to the specification, the alliance has created an information package that previews the current specification, and provides information on how to join. Companies interested in receiving this information are invited to contact the Executive Director, Rob Ranck (rranck@inventures.com).

About the HomePlug Powerline Alliance

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. is an industry-led initiative established to create specifications for powerline networking products and services and to accelerate demand for these products and services worldwide through the sponsorship of market and user education programs. Currently, the Alliance is comprised of about 50 industry-leading companies. HomePlug alliance Board member companies include Arkados, Inc. a subsidiary of CDKNet.com, Inc. (OTC BB:CDKN), Cogency Semiconductor, Comcast (CMCSK), Conexant (CNXT), DS2, Earthlink (ELNK), Intellon, Panasonic (MC), RadioShack (RSH), and Sharp (SHCPFM). Additional information about the Alliance including a complete listing of certified products is available at http://www.homeplug.org.

HomePlug is a registered trademark of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. All other trademarks, trade names and service marks mentioned and/or used belong to their respective owners.