Russound who took over IP automation group Colorado vNet last year, is set to launch several new automation products including IP based products that were in development prior to the aquisition of the struggling Colorado vNet company, along with new powerline automation products from Russound.
They are also set introduce a new vNet iPad application that is designed to control vNet’s IP-based Vibe multi-room-audio/home-control system, which distributes content over an Ethernet network. The product is sold in Australia by Smart Home Distribution.
According to CEPro, Colarado VNet has also upgraded their wireless-RF dimming system, while introducing a new line of custom-installed speakers and a new 7-inch in-wall touchscreen/amplifier.
Also on the agenda are new marketing initatives including web seminars, for the Russound IP-based Collage Media and Intercom system, which uses a home’s existing power lines to distribute audio and control signals around the house.
Collage was designed to reduce installation time and end-user costs in retrofit applications and expand dealers’ potential client base to owners of existing homes.
CEPro said that Collage’s acceptance has been “pretty good,” but the company believes the new webinars, which will supplement existing ones, will accelerate sales by focusing more on educating dealers about the value and sales potential of the system rather than on the technical aspects of the technology used, said product manager Walt Zerbe, Marketing Manager at Russound.
Russound claims that a Collage system, can reduce the installed cost of a retrofitted four-room system by thousands with some systems needing only four hours of installation time.
CE Pro said that Russound is also launching the first outdoor speakers in its Acclaim 5 series of speakers to address what it calls the “next zone” in multizone audio. A firmware update for its TCH1 Touchpoint system, which enables iPhone and iPod Touch control of its R-Net multizone-audio systems, will allow for iPad control and add new features.
For its Collage system, the company plans a firmware upgrade in the coming months to add the Radiotime Internet-radio-station aggregation service to the on-demand Rhapsody music service. Internet music sources are accessed through Collage’s in-wall amplified keypads, which incorporate RDS FM tuner and ability to stream music from network-attached storage devices.
