Universal Powerline Association (UPA) Announces its 4th Official Plug Test for Interoperable 200 Mbps Powerline Products

  • UPA's Digital Home Standard Specification is Driving International Market Adoption of New Interoperable Multimedia Powerline Applications

June 27, 2007 - London - The Universal Powerline Association (UPA), an international organization focused on ensuring global standards for high-speed Powerline applications, today announced that it would host its fourth UPA Plug Test event on July 6th 2007 for new multimedia Powerline products. Fifteen products from 10 different manufacturers have already received the official UPA Plug Tested label, which is driving worldwide Powerline compatibility and enhancing consumer confidence in Powerline technology.

Regardless of manufacturer, the UPA mandates all products be tested at UPA laboratories with each product meeting strict international and independent requirements for performance, reliability and coexistence before receiving the UPA Plug Tested label.

"The UPA's Digital Home Standard (DHS) has been a market changing milestone allowing next-generation applications; such as high-definition media streaming, music sharing and online multi-player gaming requirements to be met by UPA approved products. The Ilevo Powerline Ethernet Adapter (ILV-715) carries the UPA Plug Tested label and enables the entire family to access exciting multi-media content throughout the home. UPA technology also offers a secure, self-install option for commercial services such as IPTV," said Eric Morel, Chief Executive Officer of Ilevo.

"We are proud to work with the UPA to provide high-speed Powerline networking technology for the Digital Home. The Corinex High-Definition Video Connectivity Kit (CXP-AV200-HDCK) and our other UPA Plug Tested products are all plug and play devices allowing the connection of all IP-based multimedia devices in the home; from computers and game consoles to TiVos, advanced Set Top Boxes, and TVs. Adding the UPA Plug Tested label to our Powerline products has helped deliver a strong, irrefutable message to our customers that Corinex is committed to the best performance and interoperability options available in the market," said Brian Donnelly, VP Marketing & Business Development for Corinex Communications.

Jamison Ching, Product Line Manager for NETGEAR Powerline Products, stated: "Our high-speed Powerline networking kit, the HDXB101, makes it easy for consumers to enjoy the benefits of a true digital home designed for high-definition media streaming, online gaming and other next-generation applications. The rigorous certification process that our products were subjected to are of particular significance to our customers as it demonstrates and validates the extensive engineering efforts that NETGEAR has dedicated to bringing to market UPA compliant products that deliver reliable and interoperable high-speed products for multi-media home networking."

The UPA has been focused on building the ecosystem of interoperable high-speed Powerline products. UPA's vision and requirements allow consumers in all markets to purchase any Powerline product, regardless of vendor or bandwidth, and be completely confident of reliability and interoperability.

Products that successfully complete the Official UPA Plug Test on July 6th will be eligible to place the "UPA Plug Tested" label on their products and packaging allowing compliance with the International UPA Digital Home Standard (DHS) Specification. The UPA DHS v1.0, guarantees performance, coexistence and interoperability between UPA Plug Tested Products already in stores and homes on multiple continents for a variety of multimedia applications.

For more information on the Plug Test and on how to submit your UPA based products, contact: donald.pollock@upaplc.org
                     
About 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 catalyze 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, Arteche, BPL Global, Buffalo, 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, Planex, Sumitomo Electric Industries, Toshiba Electronics Europe GmbH, Touba Telecom, TOYO Network Systems and Watteco.

Additional information about the UPA is available at www.upaplc.org.

UPA Media Contacts:
North America
Brian Donnelly
UPA Marketing Working Group Chairman
Phone: +1 604 692-0520
brian.donnelly@upaplc.org

Europe and ROW
Donald Pollock
UPA Permanent Secretary
Phone: + 44 1780 470003
donald.pollock@upaplc.org


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