As of August 2006, the world has 250 million broadband subscribers. An obvious benefit of the always connected broadband technology is in the digital home, with networked electronics, appliances, TVs, game consoles, phones, and, of course, PCs. There are various technologies that can be used for distributing broadband inside the house, including 802.11x, Ethernet over CAT5, HomePNA, power line, Bluetooth, and MoCA. Newer technologies such as UWB are heavily promoted and may also ultimately find success in the home. The benefits of broadband technologies in the home are many—they allow instant access to information, remote control of household items, and foster educational/learning environments for children. However, as standards evolve, the devices have to be flexible enough to address new consumer or standards demands.

This session compares and contrasts home-networking technologies that are available today and in the near future. The functionality of such home-networking devices is increasing with silicon advancement to ensure that the customer will have newer technologies to play with.

Dean Westman General Manager, Network Products Group Ikanos Communications

Prior to joining Ikanos, Mr. Westman served as vice president of sales and marketing at Mathstar Inc., where he was responsible for creating and executing a global product strategy. Previously, he served as vice president of marketing at C-Cube Microsystems, where he managed the product road map of the broadband networks division. Mr. Westman also spent 15 years at LSI Logic Corporation, where he served in sequential management roles, including vice president of operations for the company's consumer division.

George Kimura Director, Research and Development Center NTT West

Mr. Kimura has been in his current position since 2006. Prior to that, he worked for NTT, where he did research and development for next-generation IP networks and network communication design. Mr. Kimura received a master's degree from the University of Keio in Gijyuku.

Jay Teborek Managing Director, Asia Marketing Teknovus

Mr. Teborek has 16 years of experience working with carriers and infrastructure suppliers, primarily focused on the penetration of new telecommunications technologies. Most recently, he was Asia sales director for SOMA Networks, a WiMAX broadband wireless infrastructure provider. For more than eight years prior to SOMA, Mr. Teborek was the director of Asia business development and director of strategic sales at Comverse Network Systems, responsible for introducing new infrastructure services and applications to global carriers.

Drina Yue Vice President, Connected Home Solutions, Asia-Pacific Motorola

Before joining Motorola in her current role, Ms. Yue was director and chief executive officer of iSteelAsia. As a start-up entrepreneur, she developed and managed a steel distribution and trading company in the steel services industry, leveraging Internet communications and marketing technologies. With her leadership, the company went public in Hong Kong, doubled in revenues every year for four years, and became profitable.