IBM Delivers Its New Home Director Home Networking System

["Mark McCall" <Mark@xxxxxxx>]

For those of you that haven't seen this on the newsgroup....

Mark


Press Release:
IBM Delivers Its New Home Director Home Networking System

IBM Home Networking Technology Is Now Available

Research Triangle Park, NC, September 24, 1998 ... IBM today
announced the introduction of its IBM Home Director* home
networking solution -- the first effort of its kind by a
major technology company to deliver a compete home network
controlled from a PC or television screen.  IBM and its
partners in the home construction industry are now delivering
this leading-edge technology to new homes throughout the
United States.

Through the creation of a new Authorized Home Systems
Integrator program, IBM has developed a unique distribution
channel that provides local installation, service and support
for IBM Home Director systems.  Combined with the innovative
design of the Home Director solution, the average home buyer
is now able, for the first time, to purchase a home networking
system that is customizable for their needs - yet does not
require a special hardware configuration.

"In developing Home Director, we looked at how traditional
home systems were being installed and identified the key
aspects that deliver the greatest benefits to home owners,"
said Mary Walker, General Manager of IBM Home Networking.
"Prior to Home Director, systems with similar capabilities
were created on an individual basis with little standardization
and often required significant technical knowledge to operate.
IBM has not only created a system with improved reliability
through a pre-fabricated solution, but also a system that is
flexible and designed with the average home owner in mind."

Home Director integrates the functions of household systems
including security, lighting, heating and air conditioning,
network-enabled PCs and PC peripherals such as printers,
modems and storage.  This functionality enables a multitude
of activities; from turning off a light left on by the children
at the other end of the house to using the arming of the
security system to activate a routine that will turn off
lights and adjust the thermostat.  All controlled through a
simple, easy-to-use interface on any television or PC in
the home.

"IBM is the first major technology company to address home
networking with a total solution for the new home buyer,"
said Tricia Parks, president of Parks Associates, Dallas,
Texas.  "Beyond just delivering technology expertise to the
area of home networking and automation, IBM has developed a
first of its kind support system that means the Home Director
owner is never more than a phone call away from a local
support person.  That's the key to success in this market."

The IBM Home Director system consists of two key components:
the IBM Home Network Controller and the IBM Home Network
Connection Center.  The IBM Home Director system is an
intelligent home networking and control solution that uses
the power of the Home Network Controller and the connectivity
of the Home Network Connection Center to facilitate communication
between the various systems that exist in the average home.
Connecting these systems through the Home Network Connection
Center gives the homeowner up to 16 separate video feeds, a
local area network for up to four PCs, up to four separate
telephone lines, lighting control through the existing power
lines, video monitoring through up to four remote in-home
cameras and control of intelligent devices through low-voltage
wiring.

In order to ensure consistent installation and service for
Home Director home networking systems, IBM has developed
the IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrator Program.  To
become an Authorized Home Systems Integrator, companies
and individuals must meet qualification requirements
developed by IBM, receive training from IBM and agree
to act as a local installer, integrator and service
representative for Home Director.  Presently, IBM has
authorized integrators across the country and is in
the process of broadening this base.

In addition, IBM is working closely with many builders
and developers across the United States to help develop
communities that will be "powered by IBM."  As part of
this endeavor, IBM is helping to define the technology
infrastructure that will connect Home Director homes to
their surrounding communities.  Complete communities of
this nature will start appearing in the near future.

Although initially targeted at the new home construction
market, IBM Home Director can be retrofitted into most
existing homes.  For more information on IBM Home Director,
IBM's home networking products, or the location of the
nearest IBM Authorized Home Systems Integrator, visit the
IBM Home Director Web site at www.ibm.com/homedirector or
call 1-800-426-7144.


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Mark@xxxxxxx
Visit The UK Home Automation Site at...
http://www.ukha.demon.co.uk/
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