DENVER, CO, September 12, 2006 — Russound, the #1 brand in multiroom audio, is entering into a strategic marketing agreement with Exceptional Innovation (EI) that will result in audio/video products that can be accessed by EI’s acclaimed Life|wareTM software.
Award-winning Life|ware is home control software that seamlessly merges the best of digital entertainment with simple, intuitive whole-house control. Life|ware expands the power and flexibility of the Media Center platform to completely manage home environments — everything from live television, music, digital photos and videos to lighting, security, HVAC, and audio distribution is easily controlled via a familiar and easy-to-use interface from anywhere in a home.
Under the terms of the agreement, Russound and EI are working to develop a seamless interface between Russound’s RNET systems and Life|ware, making it possible to control them via EI’s Windows XP Media Center Edition-based software package. By leveraging the standards-based Web Services for Devices, the project will greatly simplify integration between Life|ware and Russound products, meaning swifter installs and less time onsite for integrators.
“The ‘Russound Experience’ is all about making multiroom entertainment simple and easy to use,” said Jeff Kussard, Russound’s Vice President of Strategic Development. “We’re enthusiastic about our shared vision with EI. Leveraging Windows Media Center Edition for system integration means new opportunities for end-users to access this technology.”
“We’re very excited to be partnering with a great company like Russound,” said Mike Seamons, Exceptional Innovation’s Vice President of Marketing. “Combining their expertise in multiroom audio distribution with the complete entertainment and automation capabilities of Life|ware creates a truly unique and compelling digital living experience.”
According to Russound, the company’s first Life|ware Connected products will be announced at the 2007 International Consumer Electronics Show in January.
About Russound
Since 1967, innovation, quality and reliability have been the pillars of the Russound product tradition. Located in Newmarket, N.H., Russound offers the products and expertise customers need to enjoy multiroom audio and video systems in the home. The company pairs powerful systems using the latest technologies with intuitive controls to give customers high-performance, easy-to-use solutions. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.russound.com.
About Exceptional Innovation
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Exceptional Innovation produces Life|ware, home control software for lighting, thermostats, security systems, cameras and media management systems. Exceptional Innovation’s line of elegant, all-digital, high-definition touch panels and robust system controllers round out a complete Life|ware solution. Led by software industry professionals with extensive experience with distributed computing based on open standards and open architecture, Exceptional Innovation combines Microsoft development expertise with years of home control experience to deliver simple, seamless, life-enhancing solutions for the digital home.
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