Japanese electronics giant Hitachi and U.S. smart grid system specialist Silver Springs Network today announced the formation of a strategic alliance which entails them offering integrated solutions to power utilities and consumers in the global smart grid sector. “The partners’ efforts will focus on improving efficiency in the power and information fields, leveraging the existing strengths and market leadership of both companies,” according to a press release.
Hitachi, Silver Spring Networks Form Global Smart Grid Alliance
Posted by: Mike Boehne | February 23rd, 2012 | No Comments »
ComEd, Silver Spring Networks Partner for Major SmartGrid Project
Posted by: Steve Senne | February 20th, 2012 | No Comments »
Chicago’s Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), a subsidiary of Exelon, yesterday announced it was expanding its smart grid business with Redwood City, CA-based Silver Spring Networks. ComEd and Silver Spring finalized agreements to deploy the smart grid technology provider’s Smart Energy Platform to network nearly 4 million homes, businesses and Distribution Automation devices.
OTT Video Players Now in 13% of U.S. Broadband Households
Posted by: Mike Boehne | February 17th, 2012 | No Comments »
Strong holiday season sales of digital video media receivers, including Apple TV and Roku, helped 2011 sales of the Over-the-Top (OTT) Internet video devices approach 13% of US broadband households, matching Parks Associates’ forecasts for the year. Parks expects that more than 14 million digital video media receivers will be sold in 2012, indicative of strong, growing demand for non-traditional video access.
Some 31% of US broadband households regularly watch TV programs or movies via Internet-connected TVs, according to a recently conducted survey included in Parks’ “Value of Video: Shifting Consumer Dollars.”
“In the 2011 holiday season, 4% of households bought one of these inexpensive, single-function devices, which enable households to view over-the-top (OTT) video from Internet-based services such as Amazon Prime Instant Video and Netflix,” said Kurt Scherf, VP, Parks Associate (LINK: http://www.parksassociates.com/index.php) principal analyst. “Nearly 20% of these holiday-season buyers are over 45 years of age, so these devices have achieved relatively broad appeal among multiple consumer segments.”
There were 2.8 million Apple TV units sold in its fiscal 2011 year, Apple reported recently, and another 1.4 are on the books for this past holiday quarter. Sales of Roku’s set-top video media players also were strong last year, with 1.5 million units sold, Scherf noted.
“While this trend does not yet frequently equate to canceling pay-TV services, it can mean shaving some premium channels for a set of households,” Scherf commented. “That is a risk that pay-TV providers must address and a trend that both manufacturers and content providers are following with eagle eyes and plans for defensive actions.”
Strong holiday season sales of digital video media receivers, including Apple TV and Roku, helped 2011 sales of the Over-the-Top (OTT) Internet video devices approach 13% of U.S. broadband households, matching Parks Associates’ forecasts for the year. Parks expects that more than 14 million digital video media receivers will be sold in 2012, indicative of strong, growing demand for non-traditional video access.
Finley Announces Upcoming Management Changes
Posted by: admin | February 7th, 2012 | No Comments »
Finley Engineering will be undergoing some key management changes after the announcement that Rod Christenson, president and CEO, will be retiring later in 2012. Mike Boehne, current vice president of Marketing and Business Development, will assume the roles of president and chief operating officer, with responsibility for managing the day-to-day operations of the company.
ITU Approves New Narrowband Powerline Communications Standard from Maxim
Posted by: Steve Senne | February 7th, 2012 | No Comments »
The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) approved a new protocol for low-frequency, narrowband powerline communications standard developed by Maxim Integrated Products. Based on orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), Maxim’s new NB-PLC standard extends the use of OFDM to narrowband frequencies that make it suitable for powerline communications.
