News

Opus announces Integrated Partner Programme (27/6/2008)

Opus Technologies, the UK’s leading multi-room entertainment company has launched an Integrated Partner Programme (IPP) enabling its Opus 500 system to seamlessly control and be controlled by a wide range of third party solutions. This initiative is designed to make Opus the most flexible multi-room entertainment system on the market.

Key integration categories include:

• Lighting
• Video switching and distribution
• Media servers
• Third party controls and remotes
• Heating and air conditioning
• Blinds

There has been much hype around the concept of a smart home but with Opus’ new Integrated Partner Programme it has become a reality as key home automation solutions can be adjusted from one user interface. With the introduction of the SCU600 Serial Control Unit and the stunning WCU600 touchscreen keypad, Opus 500 multi-room can control and be controlled by third party automation products by both replicating manufacturers’ control solutions and working alongside their existing interfaces. The IPP guarantees that Opus and partners have both tested and documented the driver ensuring it is fit for purpose. This gives the installer confidence and adds value to any installation by providing easy installation of complex solutions. For the end user, one simple keypad controls their entire system.

Opus’ rapidly expanded software team has been working closely with a number of companies to create pre-tested drivers for their systems. Lighting solutions from Rako, Dynalite, Clipsal, Lutron, Mode, Polaron, iLight, Helvar and Niko can already be controlled by Opus and many more drivers will be released over the coming months.

Drivers for video solutions from Gefen, Neo Pro, Key Digital and Smart-e, with more to follow, allow Opus to provide high-definition video switching and distribution facilities to add real value to any project.

In any multi-room system, control of a wide range of media is key. Opus and Imerge’s jointly developed HotSpot facility enables the Opus WCU600 touchscreen to not only display the MS5000 video server’s or S3000 music server’s on screen display but navigate around and control it seamlessly at the touch of a finger. When used with a dock that features an on-screen video interface, the WCU600 can also provide access to iPod menus so that artist, album and playlists can be easily interrogated.

Support for any PC based Windows Media Center application has also been added using a forthcoming Media Centre Link (available October 2008) which allows touch-screen control of all Windows Vista HTPC / Media PC applications.

Philips’ Pronto remote and RFX9600 serial extender unit, now allow full control and feedback from the Opus system again making life easier for the end user by reducing the number of control interfaces. Discussions are in place with other remote control manufacturers to broaden Opus’ scope in this crucial area.

The Opus 500 system can be controlled by both Crestron and AMX systems in larger installations where a developer may have a number of complex solutions in one custom installation. Indeed, Opus has for some time been a member of both the Crestron IPP and AMX In-Concert partner programmes, with full drivers available.

Opus’ Certified Installer Programme offers full training at the company’s London headquarters and supporting resources are available on the Opus extranet.

“The Integrated Partner Programme is a key and ongoing project which will see Opus investing more and more time working with third party manufacturers to produce system drivers. This will make Opus the most flexible and simple multi-room system to integrate with,” said Peter Brown, Opus Technologies’ Chief Operating Officer.

www.opus.eu