Icron powers content distribution with DS2

ExtremeUSB developer Icron Technologies has announced a partnership with DS2, a developer of power line technology.

Icron will integrate its ExtremeUSB into a platform to connect PCs to TVs and deliver content to living rooms via DS2's power line technology.

The initial platform extends USB 2.0 and PC video to the TV over power line networking technology.

The platform allows the PC, which is normally situated in a home or office, to be used as the central media server, and the TV, which is generally situated in a family room, to become the centre of entertainment.

Both companies said that the idea is to provide an economical and convenient plug-and-play means for home users to access the internet and all its interactive content on the TV without having to have another PC by the TV.

"These solutions provide the lowest cost plug-and-play solution for accessing the content from the PC in your home office, and delivering it to the TV in the family room," said Robert Eisses, president and chief executive at Icron.

"It is the simplest way to access PC content using your TV as the monitor, and all the standard USB devices as your input/output devices, without having to purchase another PC to sit in your family room and deal with the associated networking issues."

Under the agreement Icron and DS2 will cooperate on product development in anticipation of a release in 2008 for an initial customer in China.