New SMC Turbo Powerline networking products

Today, SMC Networks announced the shipment of the newest additions to its family of HomePlug 1.0-compatible products, making SMC the first major networking vendor to ship 85Mbps Powerline networking products. Powerline network products let you use your electrical outlets for tranmitting data - perfect for those homes that are too large for good wireless/WiFi networking coverage or for the truly "security conscious" that don't want their home data traffic "sniffed out" by nosy neighbors!

I'm still waiting for SMC networks to follow suit after Linksys and D-Link made SMB IP-PBX annoucements thiis week.

In any event, SMC told me, "SMC is enhancing and adding to its Powerline networking family by introducing Turbo Powerline for higher-speed connections, and by integrating 802.11g wireless with Powerline to add further flexibility in mixed networks. Ideal for building easy, high-performance Powerline networks, or for extending existing networks, SMC EZ Connect Powerline products provide ample bandwidth and allow for overall simplicity by using existing electrical wiring and outlets as connection points to a network."

The new SMC EZ Connect 85Mbps Turbo Powerline to Ethernet Adapter (SMCHT-ETH) is available now at an MSRP of $89.99. The SMC EZ Connect Turbo Powerline 802.11g 54Mbps Access Point (SMCHTAP-G) will ship in December, and available at an MSRP of $129.99.

Here's the full release if interested:

SMC Ships Industry's First Turbo Powerline and Turbo Powerline/802.11g Combo Devices

New Turbo Powerline-to-Ethernet Adapters and Turbo Powerline 802.11g Wireless Access Points create high-performance, home networks effortlessly without running CAT-5 cabling

IRVINE, CA November 16, 2005 SMC Networks (www.smc.com) today
reinforced its commitment to fast, easy-to-install home networking by announcing the shipment of the newest additions to its family of HomePlug(r) 1.0-compatible products, making SMC the first major networking vendor to ship 85Mbps Powerline networking products. SMC is enhancing and adding to its Powerline networking family by introducing Turbo Powerline for higher-speed connections, and by integrating 802.11g wireless with Powerline to add further flexibility in mixed networks.

Ideal for building easy, high-performance Powerline networks, or for extending existing networks, SMC EZ Connect(TM) Powerline products provide ample bandwidth and allow for overall simplicity by using existing electrical wiring and outlets as connection points to a network.

The EZ Connect 85Mbps Turbo Powerline to Ethernet Adapter connects to an available Ethernet port on an SMC EZ Stream(TM) digital media device or an SMC Barricade(TM) or other Ethernet router, and plugs into a power outlet to make each and every outlet in the house network-enabled. That connection lets users simply plug into power outlets to share devices, connect to other computers in the house, connect to the Internet even play network games and communicate with network-enabled entertainment devices.

The new SMC Turbo Powerline Desktop Adapter and Turbo Powerline 802.11g Access Point are compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux based PCs, and are also excellent solutions for connecting Game Console Systems such as Xbox(r) or PS2(r) to the Internet for online game playing.

Compatible with the HomePlug 1.0 standard to work across all types of home wiring, the EZ Connect 85Mbps Turbo Powerline to Ethernet Adapter and EZ Connect Turbo Powerline 802.11g 54Mbps Access Point use auto-sensing and rate-adaptive technology to ensure that connections maintain the highest possible performance. With data transfer speeds up to 85Mbps across the Powerline connections and 54Mbps on 802.11g connections, these high-speed Powerline devices provide backward-compatibility to standard Powerline devices and 802.11b wireless networks. The network is also secured with 56-bit Data Encryption Standard (DES) with Key Management security for Powerline connections and 64/128-bit WEP and WPA for wireless connections.

"Powerline products offer a fast and easy-to-install networking solution for the home. Powerline networking eliminates the need to run CAT-5 cabling while also minimizing any extensive and sometimes confusing network configurations." said Moon Kang, product manager for SMC Networks. "Our new Turbo Powerline products demonstrate our continuing commitment to Powerline networking, while providing customers the much needed bandwidth for today's networks. At 85Mbps, we exceed Ethernet and approach Fast Ethernet speeds of 100Mpbs. We've also integrated an 802.11g Wireless Access Point with Turbo Powerline to allow for flexibility and mobility throughout the home."

The new SMC EZ Connect 85Mbps Turbo Powerline to Ethernet Adapter
(SMCHT-ETH) is available now at an MSRP of $89.99. The SMC EZ Connect Turbo Powerline 802.11g 54Mbps Access Point (SMCHTAP-G) will ship in December, and available at an MSRP of $129.99.

For more information about SMC Turbo Powerline networking products and SMC Networks or its other products, visit www.smc.com, or call 800-SMC-4YOU (800-762-4968).