The Residential Gateway Has Arrived!

OSGi Releases Spec 1.0 At CONNECTIONSô 2000

10-May-00

On Wednesday, May 3, 2000, the Open Services Gateway Initiative (OSGi) formally unveiled Spec 1.0 at CONNECTIONSô 2000: Advancing The Networked Home. This specification complements virtually all residential networking standards and defines an open standard that enables multiple software services for a services gateway. ""The deployment of gateways is fundamental in developing the infrastructure for future robust service environments,"" says Tricia Parks, President of Parks Associates. ""We're delighted to see the strength behind OSGi's release of specification 1.0.""By tying such services as home monitoring, security, energy management, and control to any number of appliances, OSGi should witness early success in key markets, according to Dallas, Texas-based Parks Associates.The fourth annual CONNECTIONS conference, the premier home networks and gateways conference co-hosted by the Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) and Parks Associates, played host to nearly 700 representatives. At the event, OSGi member Coactive Networks unveiled its Coactive ConnectorÆ 3000 series, a full-service gateway that links an Internet connection to appliances, devices, and systems throughout the home.Coactive's family of gateway products is already the foundation of deployment plans for Sensel AB, an unregulated communications company formed by Swedish electric utility Vattenfall AB. Sensel plans to deploy multiple telemetry services to 400,000 customers via the Coactive Connector solution.Coactive will also be a premier supplier for DTE Energy Technologies, an affiliate of Detroit Edison and a subsidiary of DTE Energy Company. As announced at CONNECTIONS, DTE Energy Technologies is using the Coactive Connector gateway to offer two Web-based service bundles, energy|now and safety|now, that will create operating cost reductions through energy monitoring and data services as well as ensure food safety through temperature monitoring.""Although much of the press touting the early market for home networks and gateways has largely focused on such capabilities as shared Internet access and distributed entertainment content, energy management features will be critical components of networked homes and businesses,"" said Kurt Scherf, Parks Associates' Home Networks Analyst. ""Our consumer research in Networks @ Home indicates that residential consumers will play a critical role in the diffusion of these intelligent management systems.""About Parks AssociatesParks Associates is a Dallas, Texas-based market research firm specializing in emerging technologies and services for the home. Founded in 1986, Parks Associates provides primary and secondary research on home systems, in-home networks, home security, consumer electronics, telecommunications, Internet service, energy utility, and subscription TV industries. Clients include both Fortune 500 companies and small start-ups. Services include syndicated reports, multi-client studies, custom consulting, workshops, and conferences.About CABACABA is a not-for-profit industry association that promotes advanced technologies for the automation of homes and buildings in North America. CABA's mission is to encourage the development, promotion and pursuit of this automation through initiatives and collaborations like the CONNECTIONS conference, work with standards and protocol groups, and being a source of information for the industry and the public. CABA's flagship publication is the Home & Building Automation QUARTERLY - 60 pages of news, views and new products. Other publications include Event Reports and Information (research) Series, as well as special industry reports.

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