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SMC's New HomePlug Networking Products Bring Fast, Reliable, Easy-to-Install Connectivity to Homes without Cabling Hassle (28/10/2003)

New HomePlug(R)-compliant family of products lets users network PCs, home entertainment devices and even gaming consoles at wired network speed, without running CAT-5 cabling

SMC Networks, leading provider of networking solutions for the Enterprise, the SMB and all the way home, today announced its newest family of products that make home networking easy and reliable. SMC's new line of HomePlug-compliant products gives users everything they need to set up a brand-new network or extend an existing one without running expensive CAT-5 cabling. The only HomePlug solution on the market with configuration software that runs on Mac OS, SMC's new HomePlug solution comes with two versions of the EZ Configuration Manager software: one for the Windows OS and one for the Mac OS, making it a great solution for Macintosh-only networks, Windows-only networks and mixed networks. The versatile new product line includes two new HomePlug-compliant adapters: the EZ Connect(TM) 14Mbps HomePlug to USB Desktop Adapter and the EZ Connect 14Mbps HomePlug to Ethernet Desktop Adapter; and a new EZ Connect 14Mbps HomePlug Starter Kit, with everything it takes to set up or extend a network using HomePlug technology. SMC's new family of easy networking HomePlug products will begin shipping in November.

An exciting technology for easy, reliable networking, HomePlug lets users make network connections over existing electrical wiring. At 14Mbps, HomePlug provides faster connections than 802.11b wireless -- or even standard 10Mbps wired Ethernet -- plus, it's easier to install, configure and troubleshoot, making it ideal for home applications. HomePlug 1.0-certified to ensure compatibility with the various types of wiring used in homes and offices, these new products use auto-sensing, rate-adaptive technology to maintain the best connection available. And, its 14Mbps throughput is complemented by 56-bit Data Encryption Standard (DES) and Dynamic Key Management, so users have speed and security. Ease of installation is further advanced by the product family's Plug-and-Play compliance and the included EZ Installation Wizard for fine-tuning on Windows and Mac platforms. And, its form factor makes it easier, too -- no bulky adapters to find space for, because SMC's HomePlug networking products are desktop units with internal power supplies.

The EZ Connect 14Mbps HomePlug to Ethernet Desktop Adapter (HP1D-ETH) makes extending a network easy -- just plug it into an existing Barricade(TM) or other standards-compliant Ethernet/Broadband router, plug its power cord into an electrical outlet and the electrical wiring becomes Ethernet-enabled, so any outlet in the house is an Ethernet connection port for sharing Internet access, files, printers and even home entertainment devices. It is a great way to bring Internet connectivity to a game console, like an Xbox(R) or PS2(R) for online game playing.

The EZ Connect 14Mbps HomePlug to Ethernet Starter Kit (HPKIT-ETH) is the only product that packs everything users need to start a HomePlug network or extend an existing network. Connect one of the included adapters to an available LAN port on an SMC Barricade or other Ethernet router, plug it into a power outlet, then plug the other adapter into any Ethernet-capable device to be added to the network, plug it into the wall, and it's connected to the network. With the flexibility to connect any PC, whether Windows, Mac OS or Linux based, SMC's HomePlug Ethernet Starter kit and the HomePlug to Ethernet Desktop adapters truly make network connectivity easy.

The third product in the EZ Connect 14Mbps HomePlug family of products is a USB Desktop Adapter (HP1D-USB). The USB Desktop Adapter allows connection of any Windows 98, ME, 2000 or XP device to the HomePlug-enabled network using a USB port, so that even devices that are not Ethernet-ready can connect to the network. Used in conjunction with a HomePlug to Ethernet Adapter attached to a router, the USB Desktop Adapter is the easiest way to connect a laptop in the next room or a PC upstairs.

The EZ Connect 14Mbps HomePlug to Ethernet Desktop Adapter and HomePlug USB Adapter will both be available beginning in mid-November, both at an MSRP that's 20% below the competition, at $79.99 each. The new EZ Connect 14Mbps HomePlug to Ethernet Starter Kit takes value even further, packing two HomePlug Ethernet Desktop Adapters at an MSRP of $149.99.

www.smc.com