Universal Powerline Association has broadest range of Powerline home networking applications for consumers

• New technology ensures high video quality is retained when using extension sockets in the home
  

April 3rd, 2007 - London, - The Universal Powerline Association (UPA), the world's leading Powerline industry association announced today a range of new interoperable Powerline offerings from ten different manufacturers, all of which have been awarded the 'UPA Plugtested' compliance seal. These products embedded with the leading UPA 200Mbps technology, coexist with other 'UPA Plugtested' products and for the first time include applications that enhance the aesthetics of external wall sockets. All 'UPA Plugtested' products communicate with each other and coexist with UPA Access networks deployed on six continents around the world.

The UPA Digital Home Specification is a 200 Mbps global standard for digital home networking, Rigorous interoperability tests are run on Powerline products before they are given 'UPA Plugtested' status. 'UPA Plugtested' products are the only assurance available in the market today for consumers wanting high-speed, high-definition (HD) video networks in homes, all via a standard wall socket. 'UPA Plugtested' networks guarantee that there are no dropped packets or frames, thus ensuring perfect picture quality. Internet sharing, online gaming, and other data/video sharing are also completely supported with minimal latency in the network.

Realising the increasing demand for UPA's 200Mbps technology UPA now has another silicon vendor; Cypress Semiconductor along with DS2 and Toshiba among its members and it is expected that this will further lead to more 'UPA Plugtested' products being available in the market.

"Extending the range of products available with the 'UPA Plugtested' seal is paramount for the consumer because it guarantees true availability of digital home networking solutions," commented Eric Morel, Chairman of the UPA. "Once products have been checked and certified for interoperability a large community of product manufacturers can be built, all adhering to the same high standards, so that consumers can create digital home networks for their videos, games, photos, music and data. The underlying technology of true 200Mbps performance in the UPA chips enables products to be developed specifically for the seamless streaming of multiple HD media.

"The movement for digital home networking is gaining momentum, and it's important to offer high quality products to consumers so that they can optimise their home networking experience," added Eric Morel. The ability to stream multiple video streams throughout the house to accommodate the different entertainment needs is the key to providing enhanced consumer experience. UPA is pioneering its Digital Home Specification as a universal standard for interoperability."

Manufacturers to produce 'UPA Plugtested' products
The companies to produce 'UPA Plugtested' products are: AcBel, Comtrend Corporation, Corinex Communications, D-Link, Ilevo, Logitec, Netgear, Pirelli Broadband Solutions and Toyo Network Systems. These companies produce a range of powerplug and Powerline Ethernet adapters that enable consumers to create powerful home networks.

<sub>About the UPA
The Universal Powerline Association (UPA) is an international not-for-profit trade association working to promote global standards and regulations in the fast developing Powerline communications market. The UPA aims to catalyse the growth of Powerline technology by delivering UPA plugtested and certified products that comply with these specified standards and regulations. All products and applications designed around UPA guidelines will communicate, from simple coexistence to full interoperability. The UPA provides all Powerline players the opportunity to respond to key customer expectations with open standards, based on interoperability, security and coexistence and supported by exclusive and independent certifications, the only global guarantee of quality and confidence for high-speed power line technology available today.

Members of the UPA include: AcBel Polytech Inc. Ambient Corporation, BPL Global, Comtrend, Corinex Communications Corp., Current Technologies International, Cypress Semiconductor, D-Link, DS2, Duke Energy, Ilevo (Schneider Electric Powerline Communications), Itochu Corporation, Logitec Corporation, Netgear, PCN Technology, Pirelli Broadband, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, TOYO Network Systems and Watteco.

Additional information about the UPA is available at www.upaplc.org.
 
Media Contact:                           
Donald Pollock                   
UPA Permanent Secretary
Phone:  + 44 1780 470003              
donald.pollock@universalpowerlineassociation.com    

Information for Editors
The full range of UPA Plug-Tested Products is:</sub>

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