HomePlug(R) Powerline Technology Conference Launches with Global Vision and Leadership.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Inaugural Event Highlights Broad Industry Traction and Strategic Support Throughout Digital Home Ecosystem for HomePlug Technology and Proven Standards

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance kicked off its inaugural industry-wide event, the HomePlug Powerline Technology Conference, in San Francisco today with a global mission and new leadership.

Energized by a Members Meeting on Sept. 26 and led by a new board of directors, called the Implementers' Forum, the HomePlug Powerline Alliance gathered in Silicon Valley to showcase the family of global standards supporting an in-home broadband backbone for the distribution of rich multimedia content (HomePlug 1.0 and AV), to-the-home broadband access through the utility power grid (HomePlug BPL), and the forthcoming low-speed command and control standard (HomePlug Command and Control).

These standards, each being led by a newly formed family of Promoters' Groups under the governance of the HomePlug Alliance, will ensure seamless interoperability across all three, while optimizing the architecture necessary to support each protocol. As a result, the consumer will enjoy the benefits of a unified, standards-based communications technology used by in-home entertainment, networking and appliance manufacturers, as well as by utility companies choosing to deliver broadband and power grid management services to the home.

After a rousing welcome from the Alliance's new president and an update on HomePlug technology's progress from the Chairman, the event opened Tuesday with morning and early afternoon keynotes from two of the biggest corporate names in the communications technology and networking industries - Intel and Bell Canada:

--  Intel Keynote - "Powering the Digital Home"
        In the first keynote of the Conference, Donald J. McDonald, GM
        and VP of the Digital Home Group at Intel, shared his
        perspective on the digital home, where the adoption of home
        networks and broadband solutions is driving digital
        entertainment and devices, as well as wired solutions that
        complement wireless technology with room-to-room connectivity
        in the home.

    --  Bell Canada Keynote - "Turning Triple Plays into Grand Slams"
        Confidence in the impact and direction of HomePlug technology
        was echoed in an afternoon address from Bradley J. Fisher, VP
        of Consumer Services Development at Bell Canada, who examined
        what is in store for the connected consumer of the future and
        how HomePlug technology could pave the road to the truly
        connected digital home.

On Wednesday, Conference keynote addresses from Linksys, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc., and Motorola, will cover the digital home market infrastructure and the many opportunities for HomePlug technology in a global setting:

--  Linksys Keynote - "Building Foundations in Powerline Markets"
        Opening the sessions for Day 2, Malachy Moynihan, VP of
        Engineering and Product Marketing for Linksys, a Division of

        Cisco Systems, Inc., highlights HomePlug technology as one of
        the building blocks within the digital home and discusses why
        it takes more than a great technology to build a worldwide
        industry.

    --  Motorola Keynote - "Why Connect the Home?"
        In the final keynote of the conference, Barry James Folsom,
        Motorola's Corporate VP and GM of Home Mobility Solutions,
        offers insight into the home networking dynamic, in which
        exciting new consumer applications increase access to media
        and information in and around the connected home, while
        HomePlug technologies simplify the creation of home networks
        and promote widespread consumer adoption.

The many exhibits at the HomePlug Technology Conference provide companies in the Digital Home Ecosystem with opportunities to feature to-the-home and in-the-home solutions and services, encouraging networking among the attending executives, managers and engineers from home networking and digital convergence companies, as well as powerline technology experts, from around the world.

The dual-track program at the HomePlug Technology Conference offers presentations and panel discussions from prominent industry executives addressing the technical and business issues related to developing and implementing proven HomePlug technology. Speakers and moderators include representatives from Arkados, Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), Comcast, Conexant, Current Technologies, devolo, Duke Power, Earthlink, Intellon, Leviton, NETGEAR, Parks Associates, RadioShack Corporation, Sharp and Sony, among others.

Sponsors of the Conference include Arkados, Asoka USA, Current Technologies, Earthlink, GigaFast, Intel, Intellon, Leviton, Linksys, Motorola, PowerPlus Communications, RadioShack Corporation, Sony and Spidcom Technologies.

All interested parties are invited to join the HomePlug Powerline Alliance and contribute to the development of its specifications and broaden the growing list of applications. Companies interested in receiving information about the HomePlug Powerline Alliance are invited to contact Executive Director Rob Ranck ([e-mail]) for details on membership and activities.

About the HomePlug(R) Powerline Alliance:

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. is an industry-led initiative established to create specifications for home powerline networking products, command & control among platforms within the home and broadband access services to the home. Additionally, the Alliance is chartered to foster and accelerate demand for HomePlug-enabled products and services worldwide through the sponsorship of market and user education programs. Membership in the Alliance has grown to include about 50 industry-leading companies. HomePlug Sponsor companies include Cisco (CSCO); Comcast (CMCSK); EarthLink (ELNK); Intel Corporation (INTC); Motorola (MOT); RadioShack Corporation (RSH); Sharp (SHCPFM); and Sony (SNE). Contributor members include Arkados, Inc. a subsidiary of CDKNet.com, Inc. (OTCBB:CDKN); Conexant (CNXT); and Intellon Corporation. Additional information about the Alliance, including a complete listing of certified products, is available at http://www.homeplug.org.

HomePlug is a registered trademark of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, Inc. All other trademarks, trade names and service marks mentioned and/or used belong to their respective owners.