Monday, January 17, 2005

Motorola Acquires Ucentric for Home Networking

Motorola has acquired privately-held Ucentric Systems, a provider of media networking software for the connected home. Financial terms were not disclosed. The Ucentric software solution provides access to stored digital entertainment -- such as high-definition video on a DVR, music on a computer hard drive, or pictures on a laptop -- from any connected device in the home. The software is designed to operate with electronic program guides from multiple vendors, and service providers can customize the interface with applications that personalize the subscriber experience.



Motorola said the acquisition enables it to actively market connected home software solutions to third party service providers and consumer electronics manufacturers. Additionally, Motorola will make the software available as part of its Home Media Architecture solution for the company's advanced and basic digital set-top platforms.
http://www.motorola.com/

  • Earlier this month, Ucentric Systems announced a licensing agreement with DIRECTV to deploy its Home Media Center software platform.


  • Ucentric Systems is headed by Michael Collette, who previously was senior vice president of marketing and business development for OpenTV. Previously he was senior vice president of marketing and business development for ICTV.


  • Ucentric is based in Maynard, Massachusetts.


  • In November 2004, Motorola agreed to acquire privately-held MeshNetworks, a developer of mobile mesh networking and position location technologies. Financial terms were not disclosed.