ENIKIA JOINS HOME API WORKING GROUP, LENDING ITS EXPERTISE IN POWER-LINE TECHNOLOGY

Enikia combines forces with other computer, networking and consumer electronics companies to develop an open industry specification for application programming interfaces.

PISCATAWAY, NJ - February 18, 1999 - Enikia (TM) Incorporated, the company that developed the technology for high-speed communications over existing AC power lines, today announced that it endorses the Home Application Programming Interface (Home API) Working Group through its recent membership agreement. Home API is made up of leading computer and electronics companies that are working together to develop a common programming interface for computer control of home devices. Home API eases the development of home-automation software and facilitates the accessibility of home devices by multi-vendor applications. The group's goal is to accelerate the development and deployment of computer controlled home devices including consumer electronics, security, lighting and temperature control systems.

"Home API is a necessary part of Enikia's power-line home-networking solution," said Enikia co-founder, Bob Dillon. "We are pleased to be a part of Home API because it gives Enikia the opportunity to work with other members to develop a common communication interface for devices on a home network. We envision wired and wireless networks co-existing in a house and this allows people to use dedicated wiring, phone line, wireless, or Enikia's power-line solution, based on the capabilities they want in their network. It's exciting to have very different devices appear as if they are seamlessly connected."

"The Home API standard will help programmers solve many of the future communication problems between devices on a home network," added Mike Macaluso, director of engineering at Enikia. "By creating a level of abstraction for the software application author, Home API simplifies a variety of programming chores. Home API will do for home networks what Microsoft Windows did for the PC desktop."

Product Background Enikia's products will center around its Ethernet-compatible transceiver that works with off-the-shelf Ethernet controllers (MACs). Currently, Ethernet is by far the most widely used networking technology. By embodying the technology in an Ethernet transceiver, existing hardware and software built around the Ethernet standard is compatible without the need for modification. The company anticipates product delivery in 1999.

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.

About the Home API Working Group The Home API Working Group was founded by Compaq, Honeywell, Intel, Microsoft, Mitsubishi Electric and Philips Electronics and is seeking new participants. The Working Group is developing an open industry specification for application programming interfaces that will ease the development of home automation/control software, enhance interoperability across multi-vendor applications and devices, and accelerate the integration and market acceptance of new devices and home networks into home control systems. The group's goal is to accelerate the development and deployment of computer controlled home devices including consumer electronics, security, lighting and temperature control systems. In addition to the Home API specification, the group will develop and deliver a Windows SDK based on this open specification - the first of which is expected to be available in the first half of 1999. For additional information, please visit the Home API Web site at www.homeapi.org.

Enikia and Bringing the Network Home are trademarks of Enikia Incorporated. Microsoft, Windows and Windows NT are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Other brands and names are property of their respective owners.