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Raja Simhan T.E.

Linksys spells out its plans for 'smart homes' in India.

Different devices ON DIFFERENT FLOORS of your home can now speak to each other.

In today's digital era, a typical modern home, it could even be yours, sports a variety of gadgets - computers, TVs, music systems, phones and laptops.

How often have you caught yourself wishing these systems could coordinate amongst themselves and lighten your chores? Now, wishful thinking is becoming reality, thanks to the `smart home' concept.

The `smart home' is not just about sharing an Internet connection and files among computers, but about sharing multimedia and being able to enjoy it anytime and anywhere at home.

Linksys, a division of the US-based Cisco Systems, is looking at India as a major market for the Smart Home.

The company, which is into VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), Wireless and Ethernet networking for home, SOHO (Small Office, Home Office) and small business users, has appointed dealers in the country to kick-start its foray.

Sanjeev Gupta, Regional Sales Director, Asia-Pacific, Linksys, spoke to eWorld through e-mail on the concept and the company's foray into the country. Excerpts:

What do you mean by Smart Home?

Smart Home is a concept. Where the smart home really differs from other home environments is that a communications infrastructure is installed that allows the various systems and devices in the home to communicate with each other.

Could you give an example?

The Linksys Music Bridge lets users stream Internet music services and other music stored on their PCs to their Home Entertainment Centre without running cables from room to room. Using a wireless connection, Music Bridge allows a digital music collection from computer speakers to play through the users' stereo or surround sound system in the living room.

How many such homes are present in the country?

There are no official numbers on this market. The concept is catching up in India's big cities. The consumer may start building a Smart Home in stages. To begin with, a user may have his television or music system connected with the PC and later connect other applications. It is an experience and will grow rapidly as availability of products and solutions increases. The increased affordability and the growing need to be connected are also driving factors.

What is the role of the Internet?

The Smart Home starts with the need to share the Internet as there are multiple PCs at home. Then, it extends to sharing a printer (where one can apply the Linksys Print Server), ability to monitor the home through a Wireless IP camera (Linksys IP camera Solutions), IP phones and so on. Imagine being able to see your family while travelling on an airplane. Imagine sharing your favourite music collection on your laptop on a power music system at home, wireless. All these are a way of life today.

Could you provide some global numbers?

According to research company Strategy Analytics, the global adoption of wireless broadband home networks is driving demand for a new generation of wireless digital home devices that will provide a cumulative 940-million device opportunity over the next five years. After laptop PCs, consumers are now set to adopt a variety of fixed and portable devices that will use wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) to connect to the home network.

What is Linksys' strategy in India to tap this market?

For the home segment, we are focused on the metros where the concept is catching.

We have national distributors, including Redington and Ingram Micro.

We also work with Linksys Focused Partners (currently 41 in India.) We are looking to consolidate our position in the A and B class cities.

What could be the rough investment required to have a smart home?

A Smart Home starts with a Wireless Router, which can cost between Rs 4,000 and Rs 6,000 depending on the range needed. Most laptops would have built-in wireless capabilities, and each PC would require a wireless adapter costing Rs 2,000 or so. In the second stage, various gadgets can be connected in the home network depending on needs. These can be print server for Rs 6,600, Wireless IP camera (Rs 19,900) and a gaming adapter (Rs 5,900).

Some Linksys solutions for the Smart Home

Linksys Wireless Router: With this at the centre of a home or office network, one can share a high-speed Internet connection, files, printers, and multi-player games with flexibility, speed and security, says the company.

Linksys IP cameras: These Internet video cameras wirelessly connect to a home or small office network and distribute a live video stream through the Internet to a Web browser accessible on any Windows-based PC, says Linksys.

Linksys Game Adapter: This gives any wired Ethernet-equipped game console wireless connection capabilities.

Linksys Music Bridge: This system lets users wirelessly stream Internet music services and other music stored on their PCs to their Home Entertainment Centres, without running cables from room to room.

Linksys VoIP solutions: Voice Over IP is a technology that allows users to make phone calls using a high-speed broadband cable or DSL Internet connection rather than a conventional phone line. This results in lower phone bills and an easier, feature-rich networking experience, says the company.

raja@thehindu.co.in

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