The DECT Forum, the international association of the wireless home and enterprise communication industry, is pleased to announce that CETECOM ICT Services GmbH (Germany) and Nemko AB (Norway) have been appointed first CAT-iq 2.0 test laboratories.

The CAT-iq 2.0 certification program is on track and will start in September, enabling the market launch of CAT-iq 2.0 products before the end of 2010. The DECT Forum has appointed CETECOM and Nemko as Qualification Laboratories to assess and test products submitted by applicants in accordance with the test plan and the other procedures required by the CAT-iq 2.0 Qualification Program allowing products to be certified according to the specification. In addition to meeting the requirements for CAT-iq certification, both laboratories are accredited by their national accreditation bodies as being compliant with the standard ISO/IEC 17025.

“With the appointment of CETECOM and Nemko as the first test houses for CAT-iq 2.0 certification we are confident that we have selected the most experienced and reliable partners”, says Daniel Hartnett, Chairman of the CAT-iq Working Group within the DECT Forum. “With these appointments, the certification of CAT-iq 2.0 can start in September 2010. I am expecting market launch of certified CAT-iq 2.0 products before the end of this year.”

“We are very pleased to be selected by the DECT Forum as a certified test house for the CAT-iq 2.0 certification”, says Andreas Ehre, Head of Business Development, CETECOM ICT Services Germany. “Our long expertise in global testing and certification services in communication technologies – including our role as qualification test laboratory for CAT-iq 1.0 certification – guarantees that we will be able to meet the strong demands of the DECT Forum and the entire wireless communication industry.”

“Nemko services include full testing and certification of wireless telecommunications products“, says Frode Sveinsen, Chief Engineer, Nemko Norway. “Our laboratories are all highly recognized in their respective markets. We are pleased that Nemko as a test house will be part of the deployment of the CAT-iq technology from the very beginning.“

Although slow progress best describes the fate of wireless HD chip vendors in 2010, the five-year outlook is for a robust triple-digit growth rate of wireless HD video-enabled products through 2014 according to In-Stat.  The number of shipments is projected to rise from the current levels of less than 1 million to nearly 13 million by 2014.


Some of the findings include:

• Alternative video transmission technologies, WHDI, WirelessHD, and WiGig Alliance, are vying for a dominant position.  Among the differentiating factors are whole-home range, price, and performance issues, single source, and time-to-market issues. 
• WHDI and WirelessHD chip ASPs will both fall over 25% annually through 2014. 
• WirelessHD, is championed by chipmaker SiBeam and backed by NEC, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, Toshiba, and LG.   
• WHDI (backed by AMIMON) and WirelessHD (backed by SiBeam) device shipments will both grow at triple-digit annual percentage rates through 2014.   
• WiGig Alliance members include: Broadcom, Dell, Intel, LG Electronics, Microsoft, NEC, Nokia, NXP, Panasonic, and Samsung. 
• Strong competitive technologies include various flavors of Wi-Fi, Intel’s Wireless Display (WiDi) initiative, and Sony’s TransferJet.

Recent In-Stat research “Wireless HD Video Technology:  WHDI and WirelessHD Establish Market, While WiGig Establishes Specification”, explores the three key wireless HD video transmission technologies of WHDI, WirelessHD, and WiGig Alliance. The report tracks the annual penetration through 2014 of all three technologies into 14 different applications within the following product segments:

• Consumer Electronics
• Personal Computers 
• Mobile Phones 
• Industrial/Medical applications

One year ago Jakajima and DECT Forum organized the CAT-iq global design competition amongst the design students around the globe. 

Here are some ideas. CAT-iq offers much more than just a phone!

For more information go the site of the CAT-iq design competition.

Pierre Yves Plaza Tron of Telefónica I+D, and Project Coordinator at Beywatch will speak about BeyWatch, the project on energy efficiency for the Home environment and Neighborhoods, related to technical issues like wireless vs wired, system requirements around smart grid for home appliances/consumer electronics, OS platforms, role of the operator etc.

About Telefónica I+D
Founded in 1988, it contributes to the Group's competitiveness and modernity through technological innovation. To achieve this aim, the company applies new ideas, concepts and practices in addition to developing advanced products and services.

It is the largest private R+D centre in Spain as regards activity and resources, and is the most active company in Europe in terms of European research projects in the ICT sector (Information and Communication Technology).

It currently collaborates with technological leaders and numerous organizations in 42 different countries - among which figure more than 150 universities located in different parts of the world. It also participates in the most important international forums on technological know-how, thus creating one of the largest innovation ecosystems in the ICT sector.

Products such as the public phones in the booths currently used by Telefónica (1990), the large fixed and mobile network management systems (1990), data switches (1991), Internet access services (1996), developments for digital homes and connected cars (2000), the prepaid system for mobile phones (1999), interactive a la carte digital television (Imagenio) (2004), new services for television and the new business models on Internet (2006)... are just some of the projects the company has worked on.

Over the last few years, within the global market Telefónica I+D has grown to become a network of centres of technological excellence that stretches far beyond the Spanish borders, extending its R+D activities to offices situated in Barcelona, Granada, Huesca, Madrid, Valladolid, São Paulo (Brazil) and Mexico.

about Beywatch
BeyWatch is a 30-month research project supported by the European Commission (DG Information Society and Media) aiming at ICT tools for environmental management and energy efficiency. BeyWatch will develop an energy-aware and user-centric  solution, able to provide intelligent energy monitoring/control and power demand balancing at home/building & neighbourhood level.

To reach its objectives, BeyWatch has undertaken the following:

• Design ultra-low energy-consumption white-goods

• Implement methods, techniques and services to reduce the power consumption in smart/green homes/blocks/neighbours by intelligent control of electrical devices

• Generate hot water and electricity from renewable energy sources at building level,

• Elaborate business plans and business support system (BSS) applications that will help the users and providers to reach beneficiary contracts

• Motivate user's awareness, towards less CO2 emissions on the whole energy value chain (production, transportation, distribution, supply) and cleaner environment.

The attendance fee for the two day conference on 19/20 october 2010, High Tech Campus, Eindhoven, The Netherlands is for:

DECT Forum members
€ 599,- (19% VAT excluded)

Others
€ 699,- (19% VAT excluded)

You can register online and pay online.

The CAT-iq technology has more and more impact on the global communication market for telecom, IT, consumer electronics and home automation products. Facing the challenges and the opportunities of CAT-iq now and in the future, the Conference will bring together the whole ecosystem of companies currently deploying CAT-iq technology, building the CAT-iq infrastructure and designing the applications to make this a success.

The Conference will tackle technical challenges, discuss efficient and innovative solutions, show new business opportunities and will give an outlook into the CAT-iq future.

With the standardisation and imminent certification program for CAT-iq 2.0, the industry has reached an important milestone and technology inflexion point, enabling innovative products and wireless services for IP based broadband home communication.

The first CAT-iq Conference will provide first-hand information about the entire process of CAT-iq certification as well as for future applications and next generation CAT-iq profiles. 12-15 presentations (25 min. plus Q&A), a panel discussion and an exhibition area will concentrate on topics of interest related to different CAT-iq challenges.

Instructions for abstract, presentation, posters and demonstrators:
The abstract as base for the submission of a paper should contain the title, author(s) name(s), email address of the corresponding author and the involved company (ies) followed by a short summary of not more than 250 words, which clearly summarizes the presentation paper and its key messages. 

6 conference topics
We are looking for speakers to adress the below six topics from a marketing and /or technical perspective.

Standardisation, Certification, Qualification

• What is the status of the standard currently?


• What are the challenges for a successfull certification program.

Home automation, Smart home, Smart metering

• Market size/potential, applications, competing technologies.

HD-voice / Telecom integration, Multi room audio / music

• Challenges, Opportunities, Competing technologies

DECT Low Power

• What is needed to make DECT the technology of choice for low power wireless applications?

Enterprise systems and applications

• Challenges, Opportunities, Competing technologies

Development tools (Hard-, software and systems), Operating systems / Platforms and API

• Can Android win out in the DECT high end market, Is linux/symbian an option.
• Can a Generic API unlease the potential of CAT-iq?

The abstracts will be made available on the conference website seminar progamm. The presentation paper will be made available for download for the participants after the conference.

We are looking for...

• Technically and/or marketing wise challenging presentations that will provide a better understanding of technologies and/or markets
• Practical information that can be immediately put to use back in the work place
• Speakers with a desire to share their expertise and vision
• Speakers with strong organizational and speaking skills and good presentation materials

We are NOT looking for...

• Presentations that focus on the features and benefits of your company's latest products

Contributions can now be submitted by using this form.

If you have questions about submitting abstracts, please contact: Pieter Hermans at p.hermans@jakajima.eu.

Sponsorship
Additional sponsoring opportunities are available for exhibitors. Please contact Dick Vreeswijk at d.vreeswijk@jakajima.eu for information on how to exhibit at the CAT-iq developers conference.

The DECT Forum, the worldwide association of the home and enterprise communication industry, and Jakajima are pleased to host the first Global CAT-iq Market and Developer Conference in Eindhoven (The Netherlands) on October 19-20, 2010. The Conference will provide first-hand information about the entire process of CAT-iq Certification as well as future applications and next generation CAT-iq profiles. The delegate pre-registration for the CAT-iq Conference is open now at www.cat-iqconference.com.

CAT-iq technology is already impacting the global communication market for telecom, IT, consumer electronics and home automation products. Facing the challenges and the opportunities of CAT-iq now and in the future, the CAT-iq Conference will bring together the whole ecosystem of companies currently deploying CAT-iq technology, building the CAT-iq infrastructure and designing the applications to make this a success.

“With the standardization and imminent certification program for CAT-iq 2.0, the industry has reached an important milestone and technology inflexion point, enabling innovative products and wireless services for IP based broadband home communication”, says Erich Kamperschroer, Chairman of the DECT Forum.

“The Conference aims to leverage the technical development and market deployment of CAT-iq systems and products in 2010, and will assist in developing ideas for new application opportunities beyond voice”, says Daniel Hartnett, Chairman of the CAT-iq Working Group within the DECT Forum.

This event will tackle technical challenges, discuss efficient and innovative solutions, show new business opportunities and will give an outlook into the CAT-iq future. For more information about the first Global CAT-iq Market and Developer Conference – the program, online registration, sponsoring and exhibition opportunities – please contact Jakajima or visit www.cat-iqconference.com/contact.html.

The Conference will take place in the Conference Centre at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven (The Netherlands): a stimulating high-tech environment for an innovative conference.

About CAT-iq 2.0 Certification Program:
The CAT-iq certification program promotes CAT-iq to market stakeholders as a technically credible implementation of conformity to a set of standards that will add value to their industry/lives. It ensures interoperability of devices from multiple manufacturers for functionalities defined in CAT-iq. Furthermore the certification program ensures a mandatory level of quality for specific product parameters to achieve consistent user experience for the various stakeholders. All manufacturers, test houses, certification laboratories, and further interested companies, who intend to test and certify CAT-iq devices, will be able to purchase the certification test equipment.

CAT-iq is a registered trademark (in 47 countries worldwide) owned by the DECT Forum, it references features and procedures to corresponding ETSI specifications. Only end products can be approved through the certification program (fixed part and/or portable part). Application for CAT-iq certification is restricted to Full members of the DECT Forum. Please find an overview of the CAT-iq certification program at www.cat-iq.org.

Is this relevant for CAT-iq, light bulbs? Yes, but read this first.

Supplier of networking products and computer accessories Eminent Europe BV shows to be highly involved with energy saving products by introducing environmentally friendly LED lighting. Next to low power consumption and long life span, the LED lamps have dimming capabilities. This specific combination of features will make the Eminent lamps the first true replacement for traditional bulbs and halogen lamps. The Eminent professional LED lamps are ready for mass production and will be available in stores in October 2009.

New product category for a growing market
Eminent presents a new product category: dimmable LED lighting. Developing energy-efficient LED lighting is in line with Eminent's objective to create environmentally friendly consumer solutions. Earlier Eminent announced e-Domotica, an innovative home automation system focussing on energy saving. The new LED lamps again underline Eminent's commitment to environmental sustainability. Especially in the field of lighting, there is a growing need for replacing traditional bulbs and halogen lamps with energy-efficient lamps. Thanks to research and development of new-generation dimmable LED lamps, Eminent is able to enter this growing market.

To come back to our initial question, what has lighting to do with CAT-iq.
There is a (potential) relation, as the LED lamps use electronics. These electronics can be used to control the LED lamp remotely. And here comes CAT-iq as a possible solution.
Eminent sees the LED lamps as part of their e-Domotica solution. Others like Sharp and Philips supply LED lamps with remote control.

So ladies / gentlemen of the CAT-iq industry, look at this huge potential market. 

Here you can see the Sharp LED lamp with remote control.

With the EasyTouch Panel10™, Marmitek has convincingly demonstrated that operational ease and a stylish design go hand in hand. The 10”/25cm touch screen, which can easily be attached to or fitted into the wall, is used to wirelessly operate all X-10 controlled lights and equipment within the house. Because of the fact that users can add their own favourite backgrounds, buttons and functions, they can amaze their friends, family and neighbours with a touch panel that is as chic as it is high-tech. And all for less than € 200.

Marmitek EasyTouch Panel10™
Marmitek's new EasyTouch Panel10™ is an affordable, wireless touch screen which can be programmed and used by everyone, without the need for a computer. Even grandma and grandpa can switch off all the lights in the house with one single touch on the panel.

Customised design
This touch screen is unique insofar as the content of the screen can easily be set up according to your own wishes and taste. Two different configurations each offer the option of adding a maximum of 30 buttons. The touch buttons are each given their own function and can be placed wherever you like on the screen. In combination with the possibility of placing a personal background photo under the glass touch panel, users can design a unique control panel. So it is possible to make a collage of photos of all of the X-10 devices in the house and then place the buttons above the relevant device on the screen. Users can even use photos of family members so that one touch on the photo immediately leads them to the favourite settings of the person concerned. Of course, you can always use your favourite holiday snap or any image that fits in with the style of your interior. You own creativity forms the only limitation in this regard.

To allow you to get straight to work and offer some inspiration, three 'style samples' are supplied with the screen, providing you with three different background styles. The operation of Home Automation has never been this attractive. Start today with Marmitek X-10 Home Automation or fit this panel into your existing X-10 domotics system.

Specifications
The screen is equipped with a built-in Marmitek X-10/RF transmitter and an integrated antenna. This wirelessly transmits the Marmitek X-10 commands to your X-10 transceiver. The screen, made of brushed aluminium, can easily be attached to the wall or fitted into the wall using an optional mounting frame. The screen uses 2 AAA batteries and all settings are automatically stored during any power failures.