Put a home theater on next year's Christmas List. Pay for it with some of your coming ELON profits. <g>
Further evidence of "here and now" revenue streams.
siliconinvestor.com
Monster Cable Begins Integration of Echelon's
LonWorks Solution with Home Control Products
Products Expected on Retailers' Shelves for Christmas 2001
LAS VEGAS, Jan 5, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Echelon Corporation (Nasdaq:
ELON chart, msgs) and Monster Cable(R) Products, Inc. have entered into an agreement to
create home theater and home control solutions based on Echelon's LonWorks(R) technology
and Monster Cable's range of PowerCenter(TM) power outlet products. Monster Cable is a
world leader in the supply of power filtering, surge protection, and power load switching solutions
for audio, video, home theater, computer, and other electronic applications with retail distribution
in over 70 countries worldwide and in large retailers nationwide. The companies expect intelligent
PowerCenter products that use Echelon's PLT-22 power line transceivers and other products to
be available through Monster's retail distribution channel in time for the Christmas 2001 selling
season.
Monster's family of PowerCenter products provides a number of surge protection and
performance-enhancing features to help home theater and audio owners protect and get the best
performance from their equipment. Integrating Echelon's PLT-22 Power Line Transceivers and
networking technology into the PowerCenters will allow consumers to switch televisions, audio
gear, lights, and other electrical devices on and off, and send infrared channel remote control
signals around the house from any room, using the existing power wiring for communications.
"We are excited to bring home automation to the consumer retail specialist with the
implementation of Echelon's technology into our complete line of PowerCenters," said Noel Lee,
president and CEO of Monster Cable. "The beauty of this innovative solution is that it enables the
addition of multi-room, two-way audio/video control and power switching into existing homes.
Consumers will be able to use their existing infrared remote controls from any room to turn
devices on, change volume, change channels, switch disks; basically, to control anything they
would normally operate through their IR remote control. For more sophisticated applications,
consumers can use the USB interface in our new PC PowerCenters to control their entire home
using their PC, a real benefit to those who want dynamic home theater and lighting control. The
low cost, high reliability, and versatility of LonWorks technology, combined with the features and
value of our PowerCenters, make for a perfect match. These new products will enhance the
entertainment value of home electronics and fundamentally change the way that consumers interact
with devices and systems in their homes."
"Our work with Monster Cable represents our first agreement with a high-volume home
manufacturer providing consumer electronics products directly through the traditional retail
channels and is an important step toward making home networks more accessible to the average
consumer," said Ken Oshman, Echelon's chairman, president and CEO. "Consumers want and
expect a plug-and-play solution, which has been previously elusive as an over-the-counter
networking solution. Monster Cable and Echelon have achieved true convergence and
connectivity for devices with the new PowerCenters, which offer the value and features for which
Monster Cable is known and the reliable networking on which Echelon has built its reputation.
We are excited to be working with them to introduce this first set of products and bring
LonWorks networks into all of our homes."
Monster Cable will be showing the control capabilities of the new PowerCenters at the 2001
International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), January 6-8, in Las Vegas (Booths LVCC
5869 and LVCC 6070). The display includes remotely controlled PowerCenters, an IR remote
control interface, a 3COM Audrey interface, and a Web interface utilizing Echelon's
Cisco-certified i.LON(TM) 1000 Internet Server.
About Echelon Corporation
Echelon Corporation is the world leader in networking everyday devices. The company offers a
comprehensive line of hardware and software products for automating building, home, industrial,
transportation, and utility applications using LonWorks networks, an international, cross-industry,
open standard for interoperable device networks. Echelon is Bringing the Internet to Life(TM) by
linking the millions of everyday devices connected with LonWorks networks to the Internet.
Echelon is based in Sunnyvale, California with international offices in China, France, Germany,
Japan, Korea, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. Further information can be found at
echelon.com.
About Monster Cable Products, Inc.
Monster Cable Products, Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of cables for audio, video, car,
computer, satellite, and custom installation. Monster also manufactures a complete line of AC
power conditioning solutions for computer and home theatre. For more information see
monstercable.com. |
