In 2010, D-Link Networks will be targeting some new areas of the home, says Lou Reda, VP and General Manager of the Consumer Division at D-Link's Canadian subsidiary in Mississauga, Ont., and VP of Consumer Product Development for North America.

"Our goal for 2010 is to fill in some gaps in our product offering," Reda told Marketnews during an interview at D-Link's new Canadian headquarters. "The number-one challenge for 2010 is how to deliver content into the living room." More and more A/V components have networking capability and support for the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) standard. The goal of DLNA is seamless transfer of content over a home network from one DLNA device (say a PC or media player) to another (say a DLNA-certified TV).

For this to happen, the devices need a network connection; and not many living rooms have Ethernet cable drops. To bridge this gap, D-Link is promoting wireless bridges such as the DAP-1522 Xtreme N Duo, which has dual-band 2.4/5GHz capability. The 5GHz band allows for more reliable transmission of HD video content, D-Links says. The bridge has four Ethernet ports for connecting home-theatre components without built-in Wi-Fi to your home wireless network and the Internet. During 2010, D-Link will introduce another bridging solutions, including some based on Powerline networking technology, and high-capacity wireless systems that distribute content on their own dedicated networks.

As Internet video services like Netflix become available in Canada, network connections in the home theatre will become even more important, Reda notes.

D-Link already sells Digital Media Adapters (DMAs) for streaming content from a PC to the home theatre. At CES, the company introduced the Boxee Box, a striking-looking component that lets users assemble their own customized portals of Web and locally stored content, including video, audio, Twitter feeds, Pandora audio, Picasa slideshows and Facebook pages, and bring it to the home theatre. The device, which has built-in 802.11n networking and HDMI output, will be available in Canada in August for $239. It will come with a keyboard-equipped remote control, and will also be controllable by an iPhone app. Reda says it won't be launched "until there's good Canadian content."

D-Link also plans an extensive foray into home management and security. In July, the company plans to launch an IP security kit that includes a keypad, motion sensor and door sensor. It's expected to sell for $179. D-Link will also offer other devices, including security cameras and Z-Wave adapters for Weiser locks. The system is based on Z-Wave technology, and can accept other Z-Wave devices such as lighting controls, thermostats and water sensors.

Users will monitor and control these devices remotely over the Internet by subscribing to a service called My D-Link. The monthly subscription fee will be between $10 and $15, Reda says. Users will be able to customize the My D-Link portal to their liking, and program automatic responses, such as recording video and sending text messages when a door sensor is tripped. "For less money than a home-alarm service, you can get a self-monitoring system that gives you more information," Reda states.

Article Tags:  D-Link, network w-fi, wireless, bridge, digital, media, boxee, z-wave, security, sensor, DLNA, Ethernet, HDTV, Netfilx, weiser, portal, sensor