Cisco makes connected home products simple and easy to use

HNAP enables a simple, secure and open approach for devices to be set up and configured with other HNAP enabled devices on a home network.

Cisco is leading the effort to make connected home products easier to use and set-up through open licensing of its HNAP technology. The Cisco DCP provides manufacturers of networkable devices, such as PCs, cameras, routers/gateways, storage, media players, printers and others access to Cisco's HNAP to license into their products.

The Cisco DCP is intended to establish an ecosystem of vendors of interoperable networkable products that can work together so that customers can experience the full potential of the Media Enabled Home, including easy set up, device discovery, management, wireless security, remote access, and more!

The program is also designed to demonstrate that vendor's HNAP enabled devices have met the recognized test criteria and can be publicly endorsed and promoted as working better on, and integrated with home networks that use HNAP enabled routers/gateways and Network Magic software.

To that fact, Cisco is committed to the DCP and deploying the HNAP technology across its line of products.

Ned Hooper, Senior Vice President, Corporate Development and Consumer Group, Cisco, says:

"Cisco believes the network is the disruptive event that will transform the consumer marketplace. Every entertainment and communication device will be connected to provide the next generation of consumer experiences. The Cisco Device Connections Program will drive new business models in the industry, enabling consumer device manufacturers to easily take advantage of the latest advancements in home networking technologies."

The Cisco DCP provides manufacturers with the verification and license to use HNAP in their networkable devices. Benefits of being a DCP licensee:

- Licensees of the Cisco DCP will be able to build their own network administration tools and applications that take advantage of the HNAP protocol and provide and/or open up their devices for integrated control and configuration with other HNAP-based applications.

- Accurate Topology Discovery within Cisco's Network Management Software Suite.

- Access to tools and platform technologies for building their own consumer applications (setup, management etc.) to take advantage of HNAP devices.

- Ability to communicate directly with Cisco consumer products including Linksys by Cisco routers (which include Network Magic) or other routers/gateways with the addition of Network Magic and program/obtain settings for custom task extensibility.

- Certification and assurance that their product(s) will work not only with all of the new Linksys by Cisco home networking technologies, but also with other devices that use HNAP as a discovery and communications method along with Network Magic software.

- There are no licensing fees required.

Supporting Resources:

• Read Cisco's news feature on the media-enabled home.
• Learn more about consumer products for a media-enabled home at www.linksysbycisco.com and www.linksysbycisco.com/forums.
• Become a fan of Cisco "Digital Cribs" and "LinksysbyCisco" and invite your friends to join the conversation.
• The Cisco CES press conference will take place from 1:00-1:45 p.m. PST at the Las Vegas Venetian Hotel, Venetian Titian Room #2206. Press, analysts and bloggers at CES are invited to attend. Contacts not at the show can attend via a live webcast accessible on Cisco's CES 2009 Web site.