This week at the Intel Developers Forum, HomePlug Powerline Alliance announced it is strengthening its focus on worldwide implementation of HomePlug standards. In addition, the alliance also added new members to its roster. These include Intel Corp.; Linksys, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc.; and Motorola, Inc. Subsequently, it also elected Intel’s Matt Theall as president of the alliance.

News of the Alliance’s expanded mission and industry involvement closely follows the successful completion and ratification of the organization’s HomePlug AV specification, as well as the achievement of major milestones in other areas of technology development.

“The shift of the alliance’s emphasis toward global implementation and the addition of these industry-leading companies as sponsor members signals to the industry that major changes are coming in the world of the digitally connected home,” said Pete Griffin, chairman of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and RadioShack Corporation’s director of corporate technology. “The alliance is now poised to play a major role in driving both to-the home and in-the-home connectivity solutions across the world.”

To accelerate the global proliferation of products based on HomePlug standards, the alliance has created a new “Implementers’ Forum” Board of Directors, consisting of sponsor members of the alliance. The Implementers’ Forum BoD consists of Comcast, Earthlink, Intel, Linksys, Motorola, RadioShack, Sharp and Sony. These major consumer electronics, personal computer and service provider companies will lead the alliance’s commitment to driving the implementation and use of jointly approved HomePlug standards as well as creating a diverse ecosystem of HomePlug-based products.

The alliance also announced the creation of three Promoters’ Groups focused on specific standards initiatives within the alliance. Initially, the Promoters’ Groups will address three key technology areas:

• HomePlug 1.0 + AV (in-home connectivity, including digital home and consumer electronics applications).
• HomePlug BPL (to-the-home, Broadband-over-Powerline applications).
• HomePlug Home Automation (command-and-control applications).

“In addition, the alliance is working on a Broadband over Powerline (BPL) specification based on the established HomePlug AV technology, and will shortly conduct competitive lab and field tests for development of a Home Automation standard,” said Oleg Logvinov, outgoing president of the HomePlug Alliance and president and CEO of Arkados.

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance will begin operating with its newly elected leadership at its Annual Meeting and inaugural Technology Conference Sept. 27-28 in Burlingame, Calif.

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