Universal Electronics to Provide Control at Fingertips for SIRIUS Satellite Radio Service Accessible Anywhere Within the Home
UEI innovation extends wireless control capabilities to include 2-way meta data communication utilizing Z-Wave technology with the SIRIUS Conductor
CYPRESS, CA. September 13, 2006 — Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) (NASDAQ:UEIC) today announced a development relationship with SIRIUS Satellite Radio to provide a custom solution that will allow SIRIUS subscribers to access comprehensive information directly from the handheld media controller, while also providing seamless universal control of other traditional home entertainment devices, wirelessly from up to 150 feet away.
SIRIUS Satellite Radio delivers more than 125 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 67 music channels available nationwide. SIRIUS also delivers 61 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. SIRIUS looked to UEI to help design a system that could wirelessly communicate with and control the company’s satellite radio service throughout the home. The solution would have to serve as an affordable accessory to enable users to enjoy content on any home audio system. It would also need to support the addition of a SiriusConnectTM Home Tuner, enabling users to listen to two different SIRIUS channels in different rooms of the house, all controlled from the SIRIUS Conductor handheld controller. Utilizing the Z-WaveTM wireless protocol, which is a wireless radio frequency (RF) based communications technology designed for residential control, UEI was able to deliver a truly unique and cost effective solution to SIRIUS subscribers.
UEI supplied SIRIUS with a customized solution that includes integrated hardware, software, and patented control technologies:
· SIRIUS Conductor Base: Integrates a SIRIUS tuner with a powerful 2-way RF adaptor, utilizing Z-Wave technology, that serves as the wireless bridge between the Conductor’s handheld controller and any home stereo system with an available audio input.
· SIRUS Conductor handheld controller: An 8-device universal display controller that not only sends commands to the SIRIUS Conductor base and other home theater devices, but also receives streaming meta data from SIRIUS, such as the current song title, artist and album, and displays this information directly over the unit’s back-lit LCD screen. The handheld media controller supports the navigation features that SIRIUS subscribers have become accustomed to such as channel presets and programming category lists.
· A host of UEI innovation: UEI technologies include its world-class connectivity software, Learning, Direct Set and one-touch Macro capabilities, all intended to ensure compatibility, ease of use, and end-user enjoyment.
“Z-Wave is the market leading wireless home control technology and quickly evolving into the wireless standard for home control,” says Tony Shakib, chief executive officer at Zensys, the developer of Z-Wave. “Z-Wave already has a vast portfolio of platforms for controlling systems such as lighting, home entertainment, security, air-conditioning, and appliances, but UEI has taken Z-Wave applications to the next level by delivering 2-way meta data communication within the home in an application that offers a fantastic consumer experience.”
“As SIRIUS continues to expand its product lineup, it is crucial to provide our customers with a solution to help them access our content quickly, easily, and affordably,” said Bob Law, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Consumer Electronics Division at SIRIUS. “UEI embraced this vision and was able to provide a fully-integrated solution that will help us extend our services into the home and allow our customers to enjoy SIRIUS’ content like never before. UEI has a reputation as the leader in providing control solutions for home entertainment and was a natural choice in our decision to offer the SIRIUS Conductor solution for the home.”
“Satellite radio has taken the entertainment world by storm, and it’s no wonder when you look at just a sampling of SIRIUS offerings, including commercial-free music, live sports broadcasts, and celebrity talk programming,” said Paul Arling, chairman and chief executive officer at UEI. “We are very excited to combine our wireless control expertise, while leveraging our industry affiliations, such as our membership in the Z-Wave Alliance, to seek out opportunities to help consumers fully enjoy the home entertainment offerings from a leader in satellite radio like SIRIUS.”
The SIRIUS Conductor is expected to be available at retail in November for MSRP $149.99.
About Universal Electronics
Founded in 1986, Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI) is the global leader in wireless control technology for the connected home. UEI designs, develops, and delivers innovative solutions that enable consumers to control entertainment devices, digital media, and home systems.
The company’s broad portfolio of patented technologies and database of infrared control software has been adopted by many Fortune 500 companies in the consumer electronics, subscription broadcast, and computing industries. In addition, the company sells wireless control products to distributors and retailers under the One For All brand name. More information about UEI can be obtained at http://www.uei.com.
About SIRIUS
SIRIUS delivers more than 125 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 67 music channels available nationwide. SIRIUS also delivers 61 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NBA and NHL and broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL, NBA and NHL. All SIRIUS programming is available for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95.
SIRIUS products for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are available in more than 25,000 retail locations, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, RadioShack and at shop.sirius.com.
SIRIUS radios are offered in vehicles from Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Nissan, Rolls Royce, Scion, Toyota, Porsche, Volkswagen and Volvo. Hertz also offers SIRIUS in its rental cars at major locations around the country.
Click on www.sirius.com to listen to SIRIUS live, or to purchase a SIRIUS radio and subscription.
About Z-Wave and Zensys
Zensys is a leading provider of wireless networking technology for control and status reading applications. The company’s Z-Wave technology is a low-cost, two-way, mesh network communications technology which enables everyday devices to be controlled and monitored wirelessly and securely from anywhere in the world. Z-Wave is a fully developed, proven, affordable, easy-to-use and interoperable technology that is available in more than 150 wireless home control and automation products today. Zensys offers a family of low-cost, low-power, integrated MCU/Transceiver chips embedded with Z-Wave, as well as a suite of development tools and services making it easy for companies to develop wireless products for residential and light commercial applications including lighting and appliance control, home entertainment, energy management, access control, security, and building automation. For more information about Z-Wave and Zensys, visit www.zen-sys.com.
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Media Contacts:
UEI: Stephanie Trussell
Zensys: Kristie Heinz Fox
SIRIUS:
Lauren Kruk
SIRIUS
212.584.5168
lkruk@siriusradio.com
