Enikia's Information Appliance Network (IAN) Forges Connectivity Backbone for Home Networking
Big-picture approach moves beyond PC-to-PC nets, addresses burgeoning information appliance market

LAS VEGAS, NV - May 10, 1999 - The long-range implications of high-speed home networking took on a new sense of urgency today as Enikia Incorporated (TM) unveiled IAN - Information Appliance Network (TM). Delivering the promise of the company's 10 Mbps, powerline-based network reflects a growing recognition that a ubiquitous, high-speed home network will be necessary to support the growing information appliance trend by extending broadband Internet access not just to the home, but throughout the home.

Information Appliances

So called "information appliances," "Internet appliances" or "smart appliances," are poised to become one of the biggest consumer electronic device markets in history. Yet, for the promise of pervasive computing to become a reality, consumers need a high-speed intra-home network connecting information appliances to each other and to the Internet. With the rapid spread of broadband Internet access to the home, an intra-home network is a necessary element to support the proliferation of information appliances within the home.

IAN - Information Appliance Network

IAN is the actual physical backbone that will carry data around the home. Enikia's IAN, which operates at Ethernet speed (10 Mbps) through household electrical outlets, is the only home networking topology poised to support the speed and ubiquitous access points (ubiquity) requirements necessary for the burgeoning information appliance market for the home. Additionally, Enikia's IAN has integrated sophisticated security, remote management, Quality of Service (QoS), and reliability features to help ensure its viability as a practical and easy-to-implement mass-market technology solution. By using the electrical powerline, IAN effectively serves as a high-speed data backbone, which will interconnect any device plugged in to an electrical outlet. Such a solution is just what is needed to enable the next generation of intelligent information appliances, not only to communicate with one another, but also to send and receive information from the Internet.

"While home networking has gotten a lot of attention in the last six months, most vendors are only looking at it as a way to connect multiple PCs," said Bob Dillon, executive vice president and co-founder of Enikia. "That is simply a limited vision of how we all will be using the Internet in the coming years." Dillon continued, "Home networks absolutely need to be looked at as the solution to the pervasive computing vision, empowering consumers to access information and communicate from anywhere at any time. As a physical layer backbone, IAN is a key ingredient of the Home Infostructure (TM)."

Home Infostructure

The Home Infostructure represents the integrated conduit that will connect the next generation of Internet-based content and service providers with the end consumer located in the comfort of their own home. More than just a connection to the Internet, the Home Infostructure serves as the technology platform that will enable an entirely new generation of user applications, including voice and video communications, e-commerce solutions, personalized news services, home security and automation, utilities resource management, and entertainment title distribution. The Home Infostructure holds significant economic importance to businesses because it serves as a hyper-efficient, mass-market distribution platform which can deliver digital media content and value added services directly into the hands of the home consumer.

According to Enikia, the Home Infostructure involves the integration of 1) broadband or "fat pipes" that bring high-speed Internet access to the home, 2) a home gateway that connects the Internet to the home network, and 3) IAN that distributes Internet content to ubiquitous access points throughout the home. With this combination, the Home Infostructure will effectively bring Internet access to information appliances connected at any electrical outlet in the home.

Briefings on Enikia, IAN and the Home Infostructure will take place May 11- 13, 1999 at Enikia's booth (#3216) at Networld+Interop.

About Enikia

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Piscataway, NJ, Enikia Incorporated designs, develops, and markets home networking technologies. Offering power line-based home networking with 10 Mbps Ethernet speed, Enikia enables the sharing of resources across multiple computers and peripherals, and facilitates the introduction of novel digital applications that advance home automation. The company will distribute its products through communications service providers, OEMs, and communications developers. For more information about Enikia, please visit our Web site at www.enikia.com .

Enikia, Bringing the Network Home, IAN - Information Appliance Network, and Home Infostructure are trademarks of Enikia Incorporated.