Ember helps LG add ZigBee to HomNet digital home technology

BOSTON, June 11, 2007 – LG Electronics (LG) has teamed with Ember to ZigBee-enable its digital home technology for controlling and automating home energy efficiency, security, appliances and other devices. ZigBee is an open industry wireless network standard that solves the unique needs of remote monitoring and control, and sensor network applications.

LG, a world leader in consumer electronics and mobile communications, is integrating Ember’s EM250 ZigBee system-on-chip into its HomNet™ home networking system. LG HomNet offers a variety of digital living conveniences, such as the ability to check and control appliances and home automation devices throughout the house, manage utility usage, monitor exteriors such as entrances, and provide a central information and communications hub for family and neighbors.

LG HomNet not only provides convenience, comfort and security of a digital lifestyle, but it is also a ‘green technology’ that can help reduce home energy usage. It connects household systems and appliances via LnCP (Living network Control Protocol), a protocol developed internally by LG, as well as other networking standards, such as ZigBee, Bluetooth and Powerline, as appropriate. It combines these networking systems with the Internet, artificial intelligence, and even advanced robotics to enable total control of home environments via a variety of interfaces, including built-in consoles, cell phones, TVs and computers.

“Ember’s ZigBee technology will let LG embed low-power networking intelligence into HomNet products, giving our customers another convenient way to network their home devices,” said LG Vice President Ko Beom Seog. “LG is committed to employing networking standards. Ember’s proven technology and products, combined with their leadership in being first to market and helping forge the ZigBee standard made them the best company to partner with.”

The EM250 is an 802.15.4/ZigBee compliant semiconductor system that integrates a programmable microprocessor, RF radio, network protocol stack and memory into a tiny, single-chip solution (7mm on a side). It offers LG dramatic reductions in component size, cost and power consumption, and increased range due to its very high sensitivity. The EM250 runs EmberZNet, Ember’s enhanced ZigBee networking stack.

“LG HomNet is a remarkable digital home solution because it doesn’t impose tradeoffs. You can conserve energy while improving the comfort and convenience of your living environments,” said Ember CEO Robert LeFort. “The LG partnership exemplifies Ember’s mission to provide ZigBee networks for smarter, more energy efficient buildings and homes.”

About LG
LG Electronics, Inc. is a global leader and technology innovator in consumer electronics, home appliances and mobile communications, employing more than 82,000 people working in over 120 operations including 80 subsidiaries around the world. Comprising four business units - Mobile Communications, Digital Appliance, Digital Display and Digital Media with 2006 global sales of US $38.6 billion - LG Electronics is the world’s largest producer of CDMA handsets, air conditioners, optical storage products, DVD players and home theater systems.

ZigBee: Wireless Control That Simply Works
The ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies working together to enable reliable, cost-effective, low-power, wirelessly networked monitoring and control products based on an open global standard. The ZigBee Alliance is a rapidly growing, non-profit industry consortium of leading semiconductor manufacturers, technology providers, OEMs, and end-users worldwide. Membership is open to all. Additional information can be found at www.zigbee.org.

About Ember Corporation
Ember develops wireless sensor and control network technologies that help make our living and working environments safer, smarter, more comfortable and energy efficient. Ember’s ZigBee-based semiconductors and software enable communication between devices embedded in a variety of building and home automation products. Ember is headquartered in Boston and has a semiconductor development center in Cambridge, England and distributors worldwide. Ember is a lead member of the ZigBee Alliance, and its platform is the National Technical Systems’ (NTS) “Golden Suite” for 802.15.4/ZigBee interoperability testing. For more information, please visit www.ember.com.

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