IBM and National work on home gateways

IBM and National Semiconductor are jointly producing a solution for home gateways.

IBM and National Semiconductor are jointly producing a solution for home gateways, which enable pervasive Internet access throughout the home and remote management of common household appliances such as lights, security systems, utility meters, air conditioners and entertainment systems.

The joint technology combines National Semiconductor's Internet appliance development platform, featuring the National Geode GX1 processor, and IBM's WebSphere embedded software, offering a flexible and modular hardware and software solution that can target multiple product offerings in a single development environment.

The joint platform, which will be generally available in August, will help companies reduce gateway and application development time while adhering to open standards based on reliable and proven solutions from leading technology providers.

China's largest white goods manufacturer, Shanghai General Electronics Group (SGEG) and CP Technology, a Taiwan-based company specialising in home technology, have committed to using IBM and National's joint platform.

SGEG will use the platform to develop applications that can remotely monitor and control Web-enabled appliances.

CP Technology said it is using the platform to power its new residential service gateway, the Power IA Smarthome UB2100.

"The residential gateway forms the heart of the home network", said Michael Polacek, vice president of the Information Appliance Division at National Semiconductor.

"It manages the communication to the Internet and within the home network.

It is the enabling technology that makes the home of the future possible.

Today's announcement will enable the industry to create flexible yet cost effective residential gateway solutions".

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