The extract from the OSGi web site (bottom of page) will provide a quick introduction to this industry group trying to provide a common foundation with ISP and equipment manufacturers.

CONNECTIONS™ will be held in San Diego May 3-5, 2000, and will open with a special session dedicated to the public introduction of the initial OSGi specification.  See Press Release for San Diego Conference.

OSGi Press Release
OSGi is an industry group working to define an open standard for connecting the next generation of smart consumer and small business appliances with commercial Internet services. As residential telecom and datacom services combine, homes and small offices will be equipped with "service gateways" that will function as the platform for communications-based services.

[an error occurred while processing this directive]The OSGi specification will create an open standard for a services gateway that bridges the external and internal networks. The OSGi gateway will link client devices in the home or small office to external service providers. The gateway will provide a central point from which services can be deployed and managed -- all from a central operations system that can link enterprise billing and other existing legacy applications to the clients internal network, to the gateway.

The OSGi organization is made up of many kinds of companies: technology enabler products (hardware and software components, LANs, etc.), finished goods (technology devices/consumer appliances) and service providers (TelCo., Network, Energy, Home Automation Services, etc.). There are more than 40 companies who plan to market their products and services based on the OSGi specification.

OSGi has posted a specification overview on its Web site at http://www.osgi.org/about/specoverview.html. Industry representatives are invited to submit feedback. The initial OSGi specification is scheduled for release in the second quarter of 2000.

OSGi is creating an end-to-end service delivery architecture to enable the home and small business market for Internet and e-commerce services such as:

• Security, alarm and safety services
• Content services
• Energy management and metering services
• Entertainment services
• Health care and patient monitoring services
• Appliance monitoring and repair services
• Home automation and networking services
• One-point Internet access

Based on this model, consumers and small business owners will be able to select from a multitude of convenient, communications-based services. For example:

• Power companies will be able to deliver energy management and intelligent energy load management for homes and businesses. Utility providers, such as gas, water and electric companies will have automated meters that transmit readings with no manual assistance. A small business owner could receive notification on a mobile phone that the temperature of his office had fallen below zero.
• Home security systems will no longer require proprietary communications systems. Messages could be sent to mobile phones the instant an alarm is triggered - the same time the alarm company or police learn about it. Parents might know if their kids returned home from school at normal time.
• Caring for an elderly parent or relative will be enhanced through low-cost patient monitoring devices that continuously transmit critical care or emergency information to hospitals, physicians or paramedics - reducing costs and increasing safety and security.

Wendy E. Dunn
Account Executive
BSMG Worldwide

The Open Services Gateway Initiative (OSGi) is an industry group working to define and promote an open standard for connecting the coming generation of smart consumer and small business appliances with commercial Internet services.

The Open Services Gateway specification will provide a common foundation for Internet Service Providers, network operators and equipment manufacturers to deliver a wide range of e-services via gateway servers running in the home or remote office.

Visit their site for details http://www.osgi.org/index.html

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