The DigitalHome event at PCExpo gave the HomePlug Powerline Alliance (HPA) a chance to promote its vision of the future: Imagine multiple network connections accessible to every appliance in every room of your house.

You're thinking, "Right, this sounds like a remodeling project only Bill Gates could afford." But, the HPA is banking on new technology that turns every existing, unmodified AC wall socket into a potential 10 mbps (or better) data port.

Now, if this sounds like one of those "100 miles-per-gallon carborator" Internet myths you might consider how many of the founding members of the HPA or household names of high-tech (listed below).

Already, engineers from the orginization's 41 member companies have agreed on the technical specs for a powerline network standard (see Intellon story) that has shown its reliability in extensive field trials.

With such big names pushing to make it a reality, you might just find that the home network you always wanted is as close as your nearest wall outlet.

Original HPA members:

3Com, AMD, Cisco Systems, Compaq, Conexant, Enikia, Intel, Intellon, Motorola, Panasonic, S3's Diamond Multimedia, Tandy/RadioShack and Texas Instruments

Copyright © 2006 Stephen Jones All rights reserved.