MARKETS
Telewise is a high tech start up with a single focus to deliver the best solution for home networking. As predicted by market analysts, the home networking industry will grow significantly in the next few years to cross the billion dollar revenue mark. By providing high performance, cost effective home networking ICs, Telewise well positions itself to capture this emerging market.
HOME NETWORKING
There are three approaches to home networking: new-wiring, existing-wiring, and no-wiring
New Wiring: Ethernet & IEEE 1394
New wire installation is very time-consuming, bulky, costly and could be intimidating to non-technical users. Although Ethernet is a well-established technology with high reliability and wide support from PC vendors, the consumer electronic vendors do not support it due to the installation headache.
Another upcoming technology IEEE 1394 is being supported widely by consumer electronics vendors as the interface technology for digital audio/video equipments. The main hurdle for this technology is the accessibility and affordability of new transmission cables. The appication of this technology is more toward higher-end entertainment market.
Existing Wiring: Powerline and Phoneline
Powerline technology is a natural and logical solution that offers affordable networking for connected homes. Simply plug the electrical cords of the networked devices into the power outlets on the wall and the home networking is ready. This technology has generated tremendous industry-wide interests in its potential, resulted in the formation of the HomePlug Alliance. Within less than a year of its inception, HomePlug has attracted over 70 member companies and the industry responded quickly to address the potential business opportunity brought about by this exciting technology.
Telewise has participated actively in the HomePlug Alliance since the inception of the Alliance. The company helps shape the new HomePlug PowerLine V1.0 Specification that will become the industrial standard in 2001. The HomePlug solution enables users to network their computers, peripherals and applications at home without the hassle of new wiring. The users can also share their Internet access for multiple PCs possibly located at different corners of their homes. HomePlug solution will also support audio and multimedia streaming in different rooms with network-ready speakers and displaying devices such as color monitors.
The development of Powerline Networking solution will stimulate the market and inspire a new generation of computer, stereo, entertainment, peripherals to take advantage of this technology.
Phoneline solution has also generated a lot of interests, but the limited number of phone jacks, usually under five, available in a typical house, remains a major issue of making it a widely used home networking solution. Although additional phone jacks can be added, the wiring cost can be expensive and the hassle of doing the new wiring can be intimidating to non-technical users.
Wireless
Wireless solution, given its portability, mobility and wire-free advantages, is by far the idealist way to fulfill the dream of connected homes. Yet presently, wireless is praised for its convenience, but not its price.
