4Home and Verizon Wireless Collaborate on Home Control Services for a 4G LTE Network

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- 4Home and Verizon Wireless said today they are demonstrating collaboratively-developed 4G home control services during the 2010 Consumer Electronics Show.

Verizon Wireless has said its 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network is slated for commercial launch in 2010. 4Home, the category-creator that has developed a carrier-grade software platform for connected home services, is working with Verizon Wireless to develop the first of these services over a 4G LTE network.

"4Home is very pleased to be working with Verizon Wireless to develop compelling new consumer applications," said Jeff Crews, senior vice president, service provider rollouts at 4Home. "Home control services have typically been considered value-added services running over a traditional high-speed internet connection. Verizon Wireless' continued leadership leveraging the higher bandwidths of 4G technologies opens up an entirely new market for our platform and applications. Verizon Wireless will provide the infrastructure and innovation in wireless connectivity and 4Home is providing the expertise and platform in home control services."

Overview of Home Control Services

Home control services are broadband-enabled services that currently include energy management, home security and monitoring, home health, and media management. With the coming availability of 4G LTE mobile broadband networks, these services will integrate seamlessly into the mobile experience, allowing consumers to better manage their media, energy usage, home security and health, on the go.

"We think there is a significant opportunity for service providers to enhance their offerings with value-added services such as remote home control and monitoring," stated Bill Ablondi, director of home systems research at Parks Associates. "Our research has consistently pointed to increasing interest in mobile and web-based home monitoring applications. Currently, energy management is a hot button for consumers. One of our recent consumer surveys revealed that over 80% of consumers are interested in cutting energy costs; two-thirds are interested enough in energy monitors to be willing to pay for them; and over 50% of these people prefer an online application. All of this adds up to a excellent market environment in which to introduce new mobile broadband services."

Verizon is working with 4Home to develop home control services designed specifically to take advantage of its planned 4G LTE network, scheduled to roll out in 25 to 30 markets later this year. These services and their underlying software are the result of a collaboration fostered at Verizon Wireless' LTE Innovation Center, which provides an environment for diverse companies to work together in developing innovative products that will leverage 4G LTE technology. During CES, Verizon Wireless' LTE Innovations Center will showcase 4Home's home control applications and platform software, running on the award-winning SheevaPlug plug computer reference design.

Brian Higgins, executive director, LTE Ecosystem Development at Verizon Wireless, said: "Verizon Wireless' work with 4Home is a great example of the collaborative approach we are taking to help develop market-leading applications for our planned 4G LTE network. Connected home services are an ideal application for a 4G LTE network, and 4Home's platform software provides a compelling framework to display the power of 4G LTE."

About 4Home

4Home is the leading provider of "home control services," which include energy management, home security and monitoring, media management, and home health. 4Home's ControlPoint,(TM) Portal Server, and SDK software products allow hardware vendors and service providers to create and deploy compelling, easy-to-use, and profitable new applications and services for the connected home. A single copy of the networked ControlPoint software installed anywhere on the home network provides whole home coverage - from anywhere and at anytime. Portal Server is a robust application server for the NOC providing scalable and manageable home control services for a broad, mass-market rollout. 4Home, Inc. is based in Sunnyvale, CA. For more information on 4Home and its award-winning solutions, please visit www.4Home.com.

SOURCE 4Home, Inc.