Adaptive Networks Announces CEA R7 Chairman To Act as Powerline Home Networking Industry Adviser And Spokesperson.

Business/Technology Editors

NEWTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 2, 2001

Adaptive Networks today announced that it has retained the services of William (Bill) Rose to provide consulting and support in deploying its high speed powerline home networking technology. Mr. Rose is the chairman of CEA's R7 Home Networking Committee and its Technology and Standards Council as well as being a member of the Home Networking and IT Division Board.

In this role, Mr. Rose will use his extensive relationships and experience in the networking industry to promote the adoption of Adaptive Networks powerline home networking technology by consumer electronics, telephony, computer and home appliance manufacturers. "We are fortunate to have someone as knowledgeable and insightful as Bill to support our efforts to establish our technology as the standard for powerline home networking," said Dr. Michael Propp, CEO and President of Adaptive Networks, Inc. "With Bill's advice, guidance and visibility we will have a respected and trusted professional to help educate and inform the industry about our technological approach."

Adaptive's technology provides the speed, home-wide connectivity, support for QoS, and FCC-compliance required by the digital home network. Multi-megabit speed is required to handle the distribution of broadband around the home to all devices plugged into the powerline and thus into the home network. Home-wide connectivity is essential as any networked device wherever in the home that it is "plugged into the network", must be able to hear and be heard. Support for QoS is mandatory, as applications such as streaming audio and video, and telephony must have priority over applications such as printer sharing and lighting controls, whose requirements for the network are far less demanding.

Adaptive Networks demonstrated its powerline home networking technology at the Western Cable Show and CES in November and January, respectively.

"We are highly confident in our technology approach and are taking the steps necessary to aggressively reach out to the industry to inform them, as well. Bill Rose's involvement is both a strong endorsement and symbol of our commitment to move our technology forward," said John Gitelman, VP of Strategic Marketing.

Mr. Rose's position in the industry provides an ideal mutual relationship for the two parties to help move the industry forward. "Having observed Adaptive Networks involvement and contributions to the development of the testing standards for the R7.3 subcommittee I have tremendous respect for their thoroughness and understanding of the problems and requirements necessary to introduce high speed powerline networking in the home," said Mr. Rose. "I have long believed that communications over the powerline would be the ideal `no-new-wires' solution for home networking. Having worked with Adaptive and the other R7.3 member companies since the committee's inception, it is apparent the time for high speed PLC communications in the home has finally arrived."

"I look forward to working with Dr. Propp and his talented team of professionals to help progress both Adaptive Networks and the home networking industry as a whole."

Mr. Rose will also be representing Adaptive Networks on CEA's Home Network and IT (HNIT) Division Board. The HNIT Board is made up of industry leaders in the Consumer Electronics and IT industries including representatives from Sony, Cisco, Intel, Panja, 3Com and others. This important and influential group works to identify and implement marketing and educational programs that will promote the adoption of home networking products and technologies by manufacturers and consumers.

Mr. Rose's future support of Adaptive Networks will be evident at industry meetings and in reaching out to key industry representatives.

About Adaptive Networks

Using innovative adaptive wideband signal processing technology and networking protocols, Adaptive's high-speed powerline (HSP(TM)) networking chip set can reliably transform any electrical outlet in the home into a network interface for consumer electronics, home appliances, and PCs.

Adaptive's lower-speed commercial/industrial powerline communications technology, on which the high-speed version is based, was selected by the International Standards Organization as the standard for powerline communications and has been successfully commercialized aboard refrigerated container ships for the monitoring of perishable cargo. It has also been selected and commercialized by the IEC for its standards for automated meter reading. Adaptive's technology is recognized for meeting the strict criteria for reliability and speed of response required by such applications as factory automation and credit card transactions.

Additional information regarding Adaptive Networks is available at www.adaptivenetworks.com

About William Rose 

Mr. Rose has been involved in the Home Networking and Automation Industry for 9 years, most recently as Vice President of Electronic Product Development for Leviton Manufacturing. He has worked on communication networks for many different applications ranging from fly-by-wire controls for military aircraft to RF- networked interactive talking dolls.

Bill is currently an independent consultant to manufacturers and technology development companies involved in Home Networking and Automation.