ELON dealing with MSFT, bigtime news, when it hits we'll be over 10
9 March 99
ZDnet is reporting that Microsoft/WEBTV is partnering with Echelon ELON and Leviton Manufacturing (privately held)to create a home networking system that will allow a multitude of appliances plugged into an electrical outlet access to a network-
"WebTV, along with chip manufacturer Echelon and electric switch maker Leviton Manufacturing, this year plan to release a combined system that will let users
network any device that plugs into an electrical outlet, sources close to the companies said.
The WebTV box will become the hub in a home network that uses existing electrical wiring and Leviton electrical outlets and switches that are enhanced with Echelon's processors. Using the WebTV keyboard, users will be able to control air conditioning, kitchen appliances, light switches, security systems, sprinkler systems and stereos, said Steve Perlman, WebTV's president and chief executive officer. "
"Although Perlman declined to provide specifics, sources close to WebTV said the system is designed to send and receive electrical impulses from the WebTV box to addressable processors located in the electrical outlet or within the devices themselves. Each processor will have a unique serial number, so the WebTV box will know exactly which device is being accessed at any time, sources said.
"Subscribers will be able to e-mail the WebTV box and tell it to record their favorite shows if they are running late at work. They'll also be able to e-mail and
tell the box to turn on their lights or turn off their sprinkler system," Perlman said. "
WebTV isn't the only device that could take advantage of an Echelon/Leviton design, according to Richard Doherty, a director at the Envisioneering
Group, a technology consultancy."This is not exclusive to WebTV or Microsoft. The modules could also receive signals from a device like Palm Computing's PDA," he said. "
ELON trading 5s; Songwire has been unable to confirm the zdnet story- but we thought we'd make you aware of it zdnet.com
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