Our Converging World

The surge of next-generation services, will rely on the home network

So, here I am…sitting at my desk, writing this on my laptop, connected to the world via a wireless network, using Google docs, listening to Internet radio, taking phone calls on a Voice over IP (VOIP) phone, and essentially living in a state of complete connectivity. At this moment, my world is completely connected. Unbelievably, this level of connectivity (while perhaps excessive for some) will soon mimic that of your typical client. It is already happening and will quickly become the new normal.

You see, the home of the future is destined to be fully connected. We're already seeing it happen with smart appliances, which are entering the mainstream market as we speak. Society will rely on this constant connectivity more and more, and companies just like yours will be necessary to maintain all of the pieces and parts that ultimately make up the home network. In case you are wondering, this spells nothing but opportunity. However, you, the electronics systems integrator, must ensure that your IPIQ is up to par so that you can properly manage your client's needs, now and into the future.

Owning the Home Network

As the convergence of the AV and IT industries continue, there will be a surge of next-generation services, which will all rely on the home network. To capitalize on this new opportunity and "own the home of the future," you must first put your company in a position to own the home network. Luckily, owning the network is not complicated; but it does require your knowledge and business model to evolve. It starts with selecting and implementing the right equipment, then learning to use and maintain it, much as you would any other new set of tools. From there it becomes a matter of expanding this newfound knowledge so that you are always up to date on current trends and technologies, and properly positioning your company to manage and support this technology well into the future.

With the right knowledge and network infrastructure in place, you will have a solid foundation from which to build upon. To borrow a phrase from Hagai Feiner, president of Access Networks, "the glue that holds everything together is the network—the digital foundation of the home." Of course, it takes the right equipment, but here's the thing. With network equipment, not all is created equal. The differences between a consumer-grade router, access point or switch, and enterprise-grade equipment, all lie in not only their features but often in the throughput that they are able to support.

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