In a nutshell – what is BlueBOLT?
BlueBOLT is a new IP control technology that will be available for select Panamax and Furman products in 2010.

IP control is nothing new for Panamax. What are you adding with BlueBOLT?
Yes, on the Panamax brand we’ve had IP control for the past few years with the M7500-PRO. Having this kind of technology has made it much easier to solicit feedback and really take the concept of remote, Web-based power management for custom installation professionals to the next level. The most significant change is that BlueBOLT is a 100% plug-and-play, cloud-based, hosted system. What this means is that Panamax/Furman handles the infrastructure and does all of the legwork for the communication between the installer and client device. Instead of having an IT specialist or networking-savvy employee set up a static IP address for the client device, the installer just plugs it into an active Internet connection, adds the device to their Panamax/Furman BlueBOLT account (which is free and easy to set up as a Web-based email account), and is ready to go.

What will installers/integrators use this technology for?
Installers have really embraced IP control technology, and with good reason. Often having remote access to a client’s system will eliminate the need for a truck roll and time-consuming service call. Examples of how installers will use BlueBOLT include the ability to remotely reset devices, receive notifications when there are power problems, troubleshoot power-related issues, and monitor statistics such as voltage and current consumption over time. But the real beauty of this technology is that it is 100% modular. It’s delivered as an add-on card for existing devices. Each device can have product-specific control and monitoring features, so a UPS will have its own feature suite, a conditioner/surge suppressor will have a different set of options, etc.

Why is IP control of AC power so significant?
How often do we solve problems with electronics by unplugging them from the wall and plugging them back in? The hard reboot is, to this day, the most dependable problem solver for electronic equipment. The problem is you have to physically do it, which means either being there in person or instructing a client to do it. BlueBOLT makes it possible to instantly perform hard reboots from a laptop or mobile phone. Add to this the monitoring and statistic tracking and you have a very powerful troubleshooting tool. With BlueBOLT installers can help their clients be more energy conscious by monitoring power usage specific to their home theater system. Finally, the ability to select and receive email notifications based on a variety of trigger events improves the installer’s ability to offer premium customer service.

What are some advantages BlueBOLT offers over other remote power management solutions?
We’ve received great input from our customers in designing this, many of whom use our or other manufacturers’ IP solutions, whether in power or in another category. As a result, we feel BlueBOLT really takes IP control technology to the next level, especially when it comes to ease of use. Instead of creating an interface that looks and works like an IT manager’s device setup screen, we designed the BlueBOLT interface around concepts used in modern GUI implementations such as control systems, and so-called “Web 2.0” usability. The fact that the unit is 100% plug and play and simple enough for the average end user to operate really sets BlueBOLT apart from other solutions on the market.

When will it be available and how much will it cost?
We’re looking at a Q1 2010 release of the BlueBOLT-CV1 add-on card, which is compatible with the Panamax MB1500 UPS, M4315-Pro, and M4320-Pro rack-mount power management solutions, and the Furman F1500-UPS. The card is expected to retail at $249.
 
What's next in the way of new technologies for Panamax-Furman?
We have a fantastic engineering department composed of true pioneers in the category, and currently have several groundbreaking products in development. Stay tuned.