Smarthome's INSTEON embraced by Somfy

[electron]

IRVINE, Calif. & CRANBURY, N.J. -- Nov. 8, 2005 INSTEON and Radio Technology Somfy(tm) (RTS) Interface Deliver Automated Window Covering System Integrated into a Home Control Network

Smarthome(tm), the world's leading authority in electronic home improvement and automation, today announced that it is partnering with Somfy to develop an interface between Smarthome's INSTEON(tm) home control networking technology and Somfy's automated window shading systems.

INSTEON delivers a dual-band (powerline and radio frequency) mesh networking technology optimized for home management and control. Simple, affordable and reliable, INSTEON links together core home systems such as lighting, security, comfort control, consumer electronics, appliances and safety sensors for remote monitoring and control.

Smarthome and Somfy will develop an interface to convert INSTEON to RTS (Radio Technology Somfy), the proprietary wireless standard Somfy uses for remote control of motorized shades and blinds, allowing these window covering systems to become part of the INSTEON-enabled home control network.

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[electron]

"Smarthome has been a leading provider of quality and innovative products and solutions for home automation dealers and tech savvy consumers," said Michael Lee, president and CEO of Somfy Systems, Inc. "Our relationship with Smarthome will not only provide dealers and consumers a convenient outlet for motorized window coverings, but will allow for increased applications of INSTEON and Somfy motorization within the home automation market."

According to the terms of the agreement, the two companies will co-engineer the INSTEON-to-RTS interface and co-brand the interface with both Somfy and Smarthome brands. The companies will collaborate on marketing activities, and the products will be sold through the Smarthome.com catalog and through both companies' regular distribution channels. The agreement also paves the way for further future integration between INSTEON and Somfy products.

Homeowners can now achieve even greater energy savings and convenience, along with improved quality of life by introducing INSTEON-enabled Somfy motorized shading systems into their existing home control networking environments. Each additional INSTEON-enabled product strengthens the entire home control network, as each device becomes another "repeater," passing the messages on to other INSTEON-enabled devices such as audio/video equipment, lights and security systems.

"We believe this partnership will help further accelerate market acceptance of the INSTEON home control networking technology," said Rajeev Kapur, Smarthome's vice president, sales and marketing. "Relationships with leading industry players allow the multiple benefits of an automated home. In the case of Somfy, convenience and energy savings are now available to more consumers, making electronic home improvement and automation an even more attractive proposition."

About Smarthome

Founded in 1992, Smarthome Inc. is the world's leading authority on electronic home improvement and automation. Smarthome is organized into three divisions: Smarthome Direct with its Smarthome.com, "the Amazon of electronic home improvement" (Newsweek, 2004); Smarthome Design, creators of best-in-class home control products; and Smarthome Technology, the pioneering architects of INSTEON dual band home control networking technology. Smarthome's INSTEON Alliance offers a focused community for developers to incorporate the INSTEON standard into their products.

Smarthome products are sold to an international customer base via the Web, phone and retail outlets, as well as to professional dealers and installers through SmarthomePro. The company's online catalog can be found at http://www.smarthome.com. Information regarding INSTEON can be found at http://www.insteon.net. Smarthome is headquartered in Irvine, Calif.

About Somfy

Somfy, the world leader in manufacturing of specialized motors and electronic controls for residential and commercial interior and exterior window covering markets, has North American headquarters located in Cranbury, NJ. For more than 3 decades, engineers at Somfy have been designing products to motorize interior and exterior window coverings such as awnings, rolling shutters, exterior solar screens, interior shades, wood blinds, draperies, projection screens and more. Somfy motorization systems are easily integrated with security, HVAC, and lighting systems providing total home or building automation. For more information contact Somfy, 47 Commerce Drive, Cranbury, NJ 08512 or call 877-43-SOMFY (US), 800-66-SOMFY (CN) or at http://www.somfysystems.com.

O'Leary and Partners
Michelle Laird, 503-705-4577
[email protected]
or
Jennifer McLean, 949-224-4027
[email protected]

 

[Rupp]

Now if Somfy would just adopt a main stream pricing structure we would all be happy.