Gerard Kleisterlee presented a compelling case for Philips' leadership position in the Connected Home space. Outlining the products Philips has on the market today to enable a Connected Home, he also presented a picture of the home of tomorrow - fewer wires and fewer boxes making for a more comfortable living environment with intuitive technology. No longer will consumers have to rely on stand-alone devices with stand-alone functions. Instead content and information will be accessible on any device where, when and how they desire it.
Gerard Kleisterlee said: "Philips' vision of the Connected Home extends beyond the living room and entertainment and serves the whole home. With our strengths in lighting, healthcare and household appliances we will be able to offer consumers a complete set of interlocking solutions that provide a more complete Connected Home living environment. But we will not only continue to innovate on technology, we will also have to rally our competitors, partners and governments to make the Connected Home a viable and sustainable prospect for consumers."
Today's Products that Power the Connected Home
"This year's CeBIT for Philips is about showing the results of our work and research in the form of real products that consumers can buy now to build a Connected Home. We have products available like Streamium - our Internet radio with hi-fi quality and functionality.
Today, Philips is also shipping its DesXcape, the smart, detachable, wireless, PC display that allows people to work with their PC applications anywhere around the home or office. All Philips Connected Home products use WiFi.
Collaborating for Critical Mass
Gerard Kleisterlee also presented Philips' focus on enabling technologies for the Connected Home through its alliances with key partners such as Telefonica and the new strategic partnership announced today with KPN. Through the KPN Telecom partnership, Philips and KPN will work to jointly develop, market and sell broadband ready products and services, through bundled offerings. They will make it easier for consumers to have home-networked broadband connectivity and to experience home entertainment, productivity and personal expression.
Gerard Kleisterlee also addressed issues that Philips is taking leadership on to make the Connected Home possible such as broadband availability, Digital Rights Management technology and common wireless connectivity standards such as WiFi and Bluetooth. In all these areas, Philips is doing what it has successfully done with the advent of other successful technologies such as the CD and DVD: bring partners and competitors to the table to reach consensus on common standards and formats that will grow markets for all, spur innovation and avoid consumer confusion and frustration.
The following key products being showcased at CeBIT 2003 are the Connected Home building blocks:
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Streamium Broadband Internet radio allows consumers to enjoy online music and listen to it at CD and stereo quality. The Streamium connects directly to either a cable or DSL broadband Internet service and allows consumers to listen to MP3 and Internet based music anywhere in their networked home.
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Philips continues to remove the restrictions of a home office with the DesXcape detachable monitor. Instead of being tied to one room where the PC resides, the DesXcape gives users access to applications that can be held on a PC from anywhere within the home using a wireless network.
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iPronto, the dashboard for the digital home, revolutionizes control of home cinema and home automation products and can control over 500 brands of different devices and services. iPronto is not only a control device but it can also access the Internet via WiFi. That means it receives programming information, news, weather and a wealth of other online content.
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Wireless Digital Multimedia Receiver bridges the traditionally separate PC and home entertainment worlds via an easy-to-install and use solution that wirelessly streams PC based multimedia to television and stereo systems. This means users can now enjoy their PC-based multimedia content together with family and friends in the convenience and comfort of their normal home setting.
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