DDi Announces New Platform as Central Networking Point for Sharing Digital
Information Throughout the Home
LONG BEACH, Calif., Electronic House Expo (EHX), Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ --
Dedicated Devices, Inc. (DDi), designer and manufacturer of a new generation
of digital home networking solutions, today announced its first set of
products that give homeowners an easy, secure and reliable way to access,
manage and distribute digital content. DDi's new products serve as the home's
central networking point, with the convenience of a private home network for
sharing music, video, photos, as well as Internet access, files, printers and
other equipment throughout the home.
DDi's new products are aimed at the new residential market, where up to
1.7 million new homes are estimated to be built per year(1). According to
market research firm Parks Associates, 5.2 million U.S. households are
expected to install structured wiring by 2005, growing to an estimated
10.7 million by 2008. In addition, during the next year, consumers are
expected to purchase over $150 billion in digital entertainment products and
content.(2)
Designed to be easy to use and upgrade, DDi's products are also reliable,
secure, and always on. DDi's products combine the attributes of the personal
computer, consumer electronics and networking equipment into a single product
and what becomes the center of a new home's digital infrastructure.
DDi's New Products
DDi's Digital Distribution Center is a dedicated device that enables
centralized management, distribution and storage of digital content so
homeowners can enjoy music, video and photos anywhere in the house, whenever
they want. The Digital Distribution Center acts as the audio server, video
server, and photo server for the whole-house digital entertainment system.
This device includes an eight-zone, commercial grade residential gateway and
firewall, internal digital media storage, and four USB 2.0 expansion ports.
The flexible design of the Digital Distribution Center allows for adding new
functionality, which will include higher capacity storage modules and software
upgrades for future home entertainment and control applications.
DDi's Digital Player is the bridge between the Digital Distribution Center
and the homeowner's TV or stereo equipment. The Digital Player uses standard
audio/visual cables, connects to a TV or stereo, and communicates with the
Digital Distribution Center over a home network using a standard Ethernet
(Cat-5/5e) connection. Using the DDi Remote Control and easy-to-read and use
menus on a TV screen, homeowners can browse through and select their
collection of music, video, photos and files stored and managed on the Digital
Distribution Center.
Previously, installers were faced with added complexity when installing
networking products in the home. Earlier solutions that were geared for
high-end custom homes, often required extra programming time and expertise
from installers. Today, professional installers can quickly and simply
install DDi's products into new homes. For homebuilders, DDi's products allow
them to offer prospective homebuyers innovation and a means of protecting the
consumer's investment in a home that will support future digital technologies
and entertainment. Since DDi's technology is easily installed as part of a
structured wiring system in new homes, it serves as the central networking
point for a convenient home network. As a single integrated digital platform,
homeowners can distribute their digital content throughout the home more
efficiently and cost-effectively than separate components. As a built-in
solution, the cost of this technology can be amortized over the life of a home
mortgage.
Leviton Integrated Networks
DDi has a co-branded distribution agreement with Leviton Integrated
Networks, the residential structured cabling division of the Leviton
Manufacturing Company, North America's leading manufacturer of electrical and
electronic wiring devices. Leviton's 6,000 distributors worldwide can extend
their product offering, which already includes wiring devices and structured
cabling to comprise a whole-house audio/video networking solution. These
distributors can now deliver a full range of electronic entertainment
components to provide their installers a competitive edge, with innovative
technology from DDi.
Leviton has also signed its first two distributors for DDi's new products:
ADI and Worthington Distribution. With over 105 locations in the U.S.,
Canada, Puerto Rico and Mexico, ADI is one of North America's largest
wholesale distributors of security and low voltage products.
Worthington Distribution is one of the nation's largest full-line
distributors selling home automation/system integration equipment and supplies
to dealers and installers.
Pricing and Availability
The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the Digital Distribution
Center is $2,250 and is $299 for the Digital Player and Remote Control. DDi's
products are available for order mid-December through Leviton-certified
contractors.
About Dedicated Devices
Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Dedicated Devices, Inc. (DDi) was founded
in 2003 by former Micron Electronics, Inc., award-winning product development
and management executives, as well as pioneers in the home integration and
automation market. DDi is focused on delivering innovative and easy-to-use
digital home networking solutions to the new residential home market.
(1) Source: National Association of Home Builders
(2) Based on 2002 revenue estimates from the Consumer Electronics
Association (CEA), the National Cable & Telecommunications
Association (Kagan World Media), DIRECTV (Hughes), DISH Network
(EchoStar), the Recording Industry of America, and the Motion Picture
Association of America
SOURCE Dedicated Devices, Inc.
 back to top
Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/638392.html
CONTACT:
Leiann Bonnet of Scott Peyron & Associates,
+1-208-363-0133, lbonnet@peyron.com, for Dedicated Devices, Inc.;
or Pamela Winikoff of Leviton Manufacturing Company,
+1-718-281-6155, pwinikoff@leviton.com
|
