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Home API Working Group Combines Efforts with Universal Plug and Play Forum to Foster Development of Interoperable Home Control Products

REDMOND, December 1, 1999 - The Home API Working Group today announced that it has merged its efforts with those of the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) Forum to ensure a unified specification for development of home control software and products. The Home API Working Group determined that the merger of its efforts with those of the UPnP Forum will not only combine the efforts of two leading groups, but also broaden the scope of the original Home API charter to reflect the goals of the UPnP Forum: to speed up the process of developing a common specification for control and connectivity of home devices.

The Home API Working Group, comprising leading computer and electronics companies, was announced in 1998 and has been developing a common programming interface for computer control of home devices, thus easing the development of home control software and facilitating the accessibility of home devices by multi-vendor applications.

The UPnP Forum, announced earlier this year, develops and adopts open industry standards for transparently connecting appliances, PCs, and services, and satisfies a superset of the objectives set out by the Home API Working Group.

"Since its inception, the UPnP Forum has gained tremendous industry support, including all of the Home API promoter companies," said Mike M. Paull, managing director, Intelligent Home Systems Group, Microsoft Corp. "Given the common goals between the Home API Working Group and the UPnP Forum, it became clear that having one unified specification would deliver the most benefit to the industry and consumers."

Since UPnP and Home API are both based on existing standards including XML, translation from Home API device models to UPnP is straightforward. The UPnP Software Development Kit, available next year, will provide application development tools for companies providing home control solutions.

The Home API Working Group was founded by Compaq Computer Corp., Honeywell, Inc., Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric and Philips Electronics and includes more than 60 participating companies. The steering committee of the UPnP Forum includes all Home API founders. Home API participants are encouraged to become members of the UPnP Forum.

The Universal Plug and Play Forum's goal is to help define solutions that simplify device interconnectivity and networking of intelligent devices. A list of supporters is available at http://www.upnp.org/supporters.htm .