October 11, 2000 - Honeywell (NYSE:HON) today announced the availability of the Honeywell WebPAD™ Internet Appliance - the first-ever wireless, portable tool for high-speed connection to the Internet and centralized home control applications.
Weighing less than three pounds, measuring less than an inch thick and about the size of a standard sheet of paper, the Honeywell WebPAD Internet appliance allows a user to surf the Internet, send and receive e-mail, and enter information via a wireless touch screen display. The device uses a wireless connection to a base station -- similar to a PDA synchronizer -- that's connected to broadband cable or DSL. This enables users to enjoy all the benefits of a high-bandwidth Internet connection from anywhere inside or outside the home within 150 feet of its base station.
The Honeywell WebPAD, with a suggested retail price of $995, is the first wireless Internet appliance of its kind in production and is based on National Semiconductor's Geode™ WebPAD reference platform. For information on where to purchase the product, customers should visit www.honeywell.com/yourhome.
"The WebPAD appliance is one of several Web-enabled, home solutions that Honeywell will bring to customers," said Jay Schrankler, vice president, Honeywell Home Comfort and Systems. "Technologies in the home continue to converge, allowing the integration, monitoring and controlling of key home functions via the Internet. The Honeywell WebPAD will be a fundamental component in this convergence - permitting wireless Internet access today and a wide range of wireless home control capabilities in months and years to come."
Another key feature of the Honeywell WebPAD is that it can be used with any Internet Service Provider (ISP). Recent Honeywell research showed that 91% of consumers prefer to choose their own ISP.
Additional features of the Honeywell WebPAD include:
- A 10-inch LCD panel with touch screen support and stylus
- A base station with capability for up to eight, separate Internet users in conjunction with a DSL or broadband cable modem
- High-speed connections at speeds of up to 1.5 megabytes per second
- Word processing capabilities with Pocket Word&trade: from Microsoft
- Online, downloadable, upgradeable software as new features become available
- Rechargeable battery with typical battery life of four to five hours per charge, plus an adjustable timer for battery-saving features
- A USB port for adding an accessory keyboard or mouse
- Onboard speakers and headphone jacks for listening to audio
- A cradle for charging and viewing
- Maintaining of favorites and other settings during shutdown
"With its leadership in home comfort and security, Honeywell is in a unique position to integrate various services in the home," said Michael Polacek, vice president of National's Information Appliance division. "Adding Internet connectivity and centralized control via a wireless appliance is an ingenious approach to simplifying everyday tasks in the home. In teaming up with National Semiconductor, Honeywell provides consumers with an easy-to-use, low-power WebPAD Internet Appliance that enables users to experience the rich world of the Internet. We are extremely pleased that our WebPAD reference design is part of this innovative product."
About Honeywell and Home Networking
Honeywell is a leader in creating flexible, optimum access for the home's electronic support and networking needs today and in the future. In a recent survey by Professional Builder magazine, Honeywell scored as the leading brand in home automation, security systems and thermostats. In another survey, professional remodelers surveyed by Professional Remodeler magazine rated Honeywell the top brand in home automation.
The Honeywell WebPAD is designed to operate either as a stand-alone unit or in conjunction with the Honeywell Home Controller Gateway. With its intuitive Web browser interface, the Home Controller Gateway offers convenient, centralized monitoring and control of temperature, lighting, security and appliances throughout the home. Future-proof upgradability protects the user's investment by allowing for software updates, improved plug-in modules and new applications as they're developed.
Honeywell also offers several related products and solutions designed to deliver true home networking. The Honeywell Your Home Network structured wiring package is a complete home networking solution including a common distribution box for all cable management, cables and universal multimedia outlets. It replaces traditional audio/video and telephone wiring with an ultra-modern high-speed, "bigger pipeline" system needed for advanced home theater and video distribution systems, networked PCs, security systems and more.
The Honeywell CCTV (closed-circuit TV) system allows easy and convenient monitoring of key areas of the home via a standard TV, and the Honeywell Intercom/Audio system is a high-quality distributed music, intercom and paging control system that allows voice communication and music listening anywhere in the house.
About the Geode WebPAD Platform
The Honeywell WebPAD is based on National Semiconductor's advanced Geode WedPAD platform - a complete hardware and software reference design for a wireless personal Internet access device that is optimized for Internet browsing. Its wireless design lets users, within a range of up to 150 feet from the appliance's base station, surf the Internet, shop online and send and receive e-mail. The WebPAD reference design is based on National's highly integrated Geode GX1 processor, a low-power x86-based chip that integrates sound, graphics, memory control and the PCI interface.
About Honeywell
Honeywell is a US$24-billion diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; automotive products; power generation systems; specialty chemicals; fibers; plastics; and electronic and advanced materials. The company is a leading provider of software and solutions, and Internet e-hubs including MyPlant.com, MyFacilities.com and MyAircraft.com (joint venture with United Technologies and i2 Technologies). Honeywell employs approximately 120,000 people in 95 countries and is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol HON, as well as on the London, Chicago and Pacific stock exchanges. It is one of the 30 stocks that make up the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is also a component of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Additional information on the company is available on the Internet at www.honeywell.com.
About National Semiconductor
National Semiconductor provides system-on-a-chip solutions for the information age. Combining real-world analog and state-of the-art digital technology, the company's chips lead many sectors of the personal computer, communications, and consumer markets. With headquarters in Santa Clara, California, National reported sales of $2.1 billion for its last fiscal year and has about 10,500 employees worldwide. Additional company and product information is available on the World Wide Web at www.national.com. For more details on National's information appliances, see IA.NATIONAL.COM.
