BENEFITS OF LONWORKS TECHNOLOGY

Echelon's LonWorks solution is used by OEMs, installers, and service providers to provide better products, systems, and services at a lower overall cost to their customers. Ultimately all players involved, including the homeowner, gain from this open, interoperable platform.

Benefits for Manufacturers

In addition to expanding their market reach, the LonWorks solution offers everything device manufacturers need to embed communications and control technology into home products.

• Off-the-shelf parts— Echelon provides small control components and software APIs—a palette of tools and solutions to pick and choose from— and they're ready to be designed into home products from thermostats to television sets.

• Low cost— Advanced manufacturing techniques have lowered the cost of every part. Increasing volume means neuron chips are low-cost now and will continually come down in price, thanks to the combined usage by the aggregate markets.

• Quick time to market— Fast and easy-to-use development tools save months of development time and lead to increased revenue because products get to market sooner.

• Openness— In addition to being a de facto standard, with over 6 million LonWorks-based devices installed all around the world, LonWorks technology is endorsed by several standards organizations, including EIA/CEMA.

Benefits for Service Providers

Utility and telecommunication deregulation translates into increased choices for homeowner to pick their services from. Consequently, utility and telecommunication companies are under more pressure to create new revenue streams while simultaneously reducing customer churn. The LonWorks system provides an open platform for new services to be offered by utilities and telcos that can work with the existing and future products from manufacturers.

Benefits for Home Automation Installers

LonWorks uses existing power lines in homes as a dependable and robust communications medium. The result is dramatically lower installation costs.

Benefits for Homeowners

Any product with the LonMark can work as part of a LonWorks control system, no matter who made the product and who installed the system. That includes dishwashers, hot-water heaters, thermostats, security keypads, and air conditioners.