Lucent
Technologies has signed contracts worth more than $22 million
to equip several residential communities now under construction with an
advanced communications network that will offer a variety of high-tech
services.
Dubbed The HomeStar Wiring System, the network will offer voice, video and
high-speed data services. Construction is underway on 55,000 homes in Las
Vegas, Gilbert, Ariz. and Miramar, Fla. that will be hooked up to the new
system.
The new homes outfitted with HomeStar will be able to support
various networking applications including telecommuting, distance
learning, interactive entertainment and learning systems, electronic
shopping and banking, child monitoring, security alert and home health
monitoring.
Homeowners will be able to control and manage a variety of communication
systems, such as phone, fax, and e-mail; entertainment systems including
whole-house stereo, VCR, cable, satellite and digital television; home
office equipment, video surveillance systems and environmental management
systems.
Community residents will be able to surf the Internet at the fastest
possible speeds, talk to neighbors over an “electronic fence” using the
community intranet, view visitors at the front door by changing the channel
on the television set or picking up the telephone.
According to Lucent, analysts forecast consumer sales of home technology
systems and products will surge from $2 billion in 1998 to $27 billion by
2005, with the Internet playing a significant role as a contributing factor.
“Demand for technology in homes today is staggering. You need only look at
the number of people using the Internet today compared to just a few years
ago to see that consumer’s needs are rapidly changing,” said Drew Brown,
president of DMB Properties.
“You simply can’t build a home today with traditional phone jacks, cable
ports and electrical systems and think that home will adequately serve the
needs of its owners in the coming years. In just a few short years, the
home will simply be outdated and won’t hold its value,” Brown said.
