SYDNEY -- 8 November 2000 -- Internetworking leader Cisco Systems, together with Bovis Lend Lease, Jacksons Landing, the New South Wales Government and 17 partners today launched iHOME, a new home showcasing the latest in computing, entertainment and Internet solutions for the home.

iHOME's other partners include AAPT, Compaq Computer Australia, Copper Development Centre, Crestron, Gerard Industries (Clipsal), Len Wallis Audio, Inner Range, Panduit, Polycom, ReQuest Multimedia, Silent Gliss, Sony, SoundCorp, Sunbeam and Whirlpool (see below for details on each).

The project is designed to inspire consumers and provide Internet service providers (ISPs), application service providers (ASPs), telecommunications carriers, utilities companies and others concrete examples of next-generation, value-added services they could offer now to customers. These range from supplying broadband Internet access, Internet telephony, online education, and video-on-demand services to remotely monitoring home security systems, and even watering gardens.

"The home is the next, multi-billion dollar frontier for many players, particularly telecommunications providers, utilities and others that are seeing their traditional services quickly become commodities," says Mr Terry Walsh, Managing Director, Cisco Systems Australia & New Zealand.

"A large proportion of consumers will soon be connected to the Internet all the time and at high speed using broadband technologies like cable modems and digital subscriber lines. We believe this will lead to the emergence of 'Home Service Providers', smart companies that focus on delivering imaginative and profitable services to people in their homes."

Research firm the Yankee Group and Cisco Systems have estimated that the number of Australian households with broadband internet access will rise from around 150,000 today to 2.4 million by 2005. According to IDC, some two million Australian homes are expected to have home computer networks by that time.

Already, more than 2.3 million Australian households have Internet access from home and more than half of all households (3.8 million) own a personal computer, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

"We're already seeing a marked shift in customer demand towards 'smart homes' that feature high quality cabling, extra electrical outlets and other features that make it easy to get Internet access, run home computer networks and install advanced home entertainment systems," said Ceinwen Kirk, General Manager, Commercial, Bovis Lend Lease, which built the iHOME.

Three other trends are also reflected at iHOME. More people are working from home, creating demand for advanced home office systems. These include stay at home parents who are no longer denied the opportunity to work, and other professionals seeking a better balance between their home and work lives.

In addition, home entertainment systems are merging with computing devices, making PCs, Internet access devices and other tools cheaper, more widely available and easier to use. Many of the networking, security and automation products, such as devices for opening curtains, are also becoming mass-market products affordable to consumers.

iHOME

The iHOME is a modern, three-storey terrace house located at Jacksons Landing, Pyrmont. It features:

• Internet, new electrical and computer cabling;
• Internet-accessible video cameras;
• a state-of-the-art home theatre system;
• PCs, notebook computers, servers, telephone system server computers;
• permanent broadband link to the Internet;
• one fixed-wire and 1 wireless computer network;
• videoconferencing facilities;
• an internal phone network;
• 42-inch Plasma screens; and
• commercial-grade home security system.

Every piece of equipment in the house can be bought today (with the exception of the Whirlpool Internet fridge - this evolving technology is expected to be available in the US within six months). While the solutions featured in iHOME might be more than many households could expect to implement, in practice much of the equipment in the iHOME would be housed and managed by a service provider. As above, these 'Home Service Providers' might include ISPs, ASPs, carriers or utilities. Depending on services required and appliances purchased costs will range from a few thousand dollars to many times that number.

The iHOME is expected to remain open for five months, from 8 November 2000 to 1 April 2001. At the end of that time, it will be sold as-is by Lend Lease to one lucky iHOME family.

LIFE @ iHOME

The advanced technology in iHOME makes many new services and functions possible.

iHOME's home control technology from Crestron makes it possible to control virtually every device in the house from a series of touch screens as well as a wireless control pad located around the building. The facilities that Crestron can control include:

• electrical and lighting network (for turning appliances and lights on and off);
• air temperature;
• security (including a network of cameras and the automatic locking and unlocking of doors);
• home theatre system and other audio-visual equipment;
• curtains and blinds;
• garden watering system; and
• a remotely controllable video camera in the living room.

Because the iHOME is truly online, any system that can be manipulated using Crestron can also be controlled from across the Internet via iHOME's private and secure website. This is achieved by enabling commands entered into the website to be relayed directly to the Crestron system. It means that residents can look inside their house at any time by looking through their video cameras over the Internet, turn lights on and off if they want to give the impression they're home, switch on the air conditioning before coming home on a hot day, and many other tasks.

The iHOME website, or 'portal', also provides the residents of iHOME with access to electronic mail, Word Processing and other office applications, and a range of NSW Government services. This portal, custom-built for iHOME, is the type of functionality HSPs might offer to customers.

iHOME also features an in-house audio system that can play MP3 songs directly from the Internet throughout the entire home, television quality videoconferencing facilities as well as smaller Internet-based videoconferencing units, a Sony PlayStation 2 to enable residents to play multiplayer games online, an Internet-based phone system that provides free international calls, a multimedia editing suite, and a robotic dog!

iHOME PARTNERS

AAPT (www.aapt.com.au)

AAPT, Australia's third largest telecommunications carrier, has provided the home with broadband Internet access utilising microwave technology. AAPT has supplied a permanent 2 Megabit per second link from the house to the Internet.

Bovis Lend Lease (www.lendlease.com.au) & Jacksons Landing (www.jacksonslanding.com.au)

Bovis Lend Lease and Jacksons Landing have supplied the house itself. The participation of Bovis Lend Lease and Jacksons Landing demonstrates that the two companies are committed to building smart, 'future-proof' homes for next-generation consumers.

Cisco Systems (www.cisco.com)

Cisco has coordinated the creation of iHOME and also provided the Internet Protocol-based phone system and key data communications equipment (switches, routers and wireless networking devices).

Clipsal Integrated Systems (www.clipsal.com/cis)

Clipsal Integrated Systems is a major provider of intelligent electrical systems to corporate and residential clients. Its flagship Clipsal C-Bus Energy Management System is a central component of the iHOME, providing control over all lighting and electrical power.

Copper Development Centre (www.copperdev.com.au)

Copper Development Centre is an umbrella body for the copper industry and its SmartWired system helps consumers wire their homes, particularly new ones, to ensure they'll be able to take full advantage of advances in computing, entertainment and telecommunications.

Compaq Computer Australia (wwww.compaq.com.au)

As a leading provider of Internet solutions, Compaq is a major contributor of equipment for the iHOME, incorporating the latest in technological design and services support. The technology used includes a network of thin-client, maximum uptime, high speed servers; easily upgradeable storage facilities; flat-panel monitors; fingerprint identification security system; iPAQ pocket PCs for instant Internet access and 24 x 7 warranty support.

Crestron Control Systems (www.crestron.com) & SoundCorp (www.soundcorp.com.au)

Crestron Control Systems equipment was supplied by Australian agent SoundCorp and is used to control virtually all devices and systems in the house.

Len Wallis Audio

Len Wallis Audio is one of Australia's leading suppliers of sophisticated home entertainment solutions. At iHOME, it has acted as a central architect and technical services provider and also supplied speaker equipment from Sonance.

Inner Range (www.innerrange.com.au)

Inner Range is a leading Australian security technology company. It has supplied its Concept 4000 intelligent security system with GSM messaging and control.

NSW Government - Department of Information and Technology & Management (www.nsw.gov.au)

The New South Wales Government is a progressive user of Internet technology as a way of making information and services more widely accessible to the public. It is showcasing a number of the services on the iHOME Internet portal including Trip Planner, Lottery results, and Water Bill Payments.

Panduit Network Connectivity Group (www.panduit.com)

The Panduit Network Connectivity Group is an international leader in network infrastructure solutions and has supplied the cabling and associated jacks, panels and tools for iHOME's audio-visual network.

Polycom, Inc. (www.polycom.com)

Polycom has supplied ViaVideo and ViewStation FX videoconferencing systems.

ReQuest Multimedia (www.request.com)

ReQuest Inc. has supplied its AudioRequest MP3 Home Stereo unit, described as 'the world's first home stereo MP3 jukebox'. This device can store up to 300 hours' worth of MP3 music tracks.

Silent Gliss (www.silentgliss.com.au)

Silent Gliss is located in Balmain Rd, Lilyfield, Sydney, and is the leading manufacturer of automated window treatments, including roller blinds, romans, curtain tracking, black-out blinds, Panel Glides, Wintergardens and other shading systems. In the iHOME, Silent Gliss provided and installed all motorised window furnishings, (plus some manual), which were used on almost every window.

Sony Australia (www.sony.com.au)

Sony has provided a wide range of state-of-the-art equipment that shows the convergence that is occurring in the home -- both between traditional entertainment systems and computers as well as the blurring of the lines between business and home technology. These include a Handycam, Home Theatre System, multimedia editing suite and Plasma Screens, VAIO notebook computers, VCRs and other equipment.

Sunbeam (www.sunbeam.com.au)

Sunbeam has made available many of its latest appliances. Most of these can be controlled through the nearest power point by using iHOME's Crestron and Clipsal C-Bus to manipulate their electrical supply.

Whirlpool Australia (www.whirlpool.com)

Whirlpool supplied a range of major home appliances and whitegoods including an electric oven, gas cooktop, rangehood, microwave oven, dishwasher, front load washing machine and clothes dryer. The company has also supplied a prototype Internet fridge in lieu of the arrival of an operative Internet-enabled model which is scheduled for January 2001.

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