Red Herring reports that HomePlug hasn�t caught on as consumers� favorite broadband home networking technology. That may change soon. This year, chip and device makers are rolling out new products that deliver 200 megabits per second (mbps), fast enough to stream multiple high-definition movies at the same time.
HomePlug products are adapters that plug into electrical sockets and connect to computers or other devices via ethernet. To create the network, each electronic device needs an adapter, or consumers can use an adapter that turns data into Wi-Fi signals after the information has traveled through the power lines.
Six years ago, several chip and electronics companies formed the HomePlug Powerline Alliance to promote the technology. In 2001, the alliance settled on its first technical specs, good for devices that deliver 14 mbps. The speed improved to 85 mbps before the alliance developed the 200-mbps specs last August. Consumers have bought 4.5 million HomePlug devices worldwide in the last five years.
HomePlug products are adapters that plug into electrical sockets and connect to computers or other devices via ethernet. To create the network, each electronic device needs an adapter, or consumers can use an adapter that turns data into Wi-Fi signals after the information has traveled through the power lines.
Six years ago, several chip and electronics companies formed the HomePlug Powerline Alliance to promote the technology. In 2001, the alliance settled on its first technical specs, good for devices that deliver 14 mbps. The speed improved to 85 mbps before the alliance developed the 200-mbps specs last August. Consumers have bought 4.5 million HomePlug devices worldwide in the last five years.