November 19, 2001
CDNX: IT
Vancouver, B.C.
BURNABY, B.C. – Icron Technologies Corporation (CDNX: IT), a leading provider of extended range high-performance connectivity technologies for the computer marketplace, today announced the Open Systems for Physical Security (OSPS) initiative. OSPS describes an open systems model to be used by the security, surveillance and biometrics industry. Using standard products from the computer and data communications industries, technologies such as USB, Ethernet and IP now enable cost-effective security systems for small, medium and large businesses.
Icron?s ExtremeUSB technology for extended range Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectivity provides a unique method for universally connecting the growing range of USB security market devices over the distance range demanded by typical user installations. Webcams, biometric scanners and access control devices are examples of security system components that are increasingly being built around USB, each usually requiring an extended range connection to the host computer or server. Icron currently markets its ExtremeUSB technology as complete products and as Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) modules for integration into larger solutions in security, surveillance and biometrics installations. Icron products form key parts of systems and installations that can be found in numerous sites as varied as amusement parks, daycare centers and commercial offices around the world.
In the traditional security environment, systems are implemented with a diverse range of closed and incompatible technologies. Separate systems are required for surveillance, access control and resource usage authorization. The capital and maintenance cost of these systems often places them beyond the reach of small and medium sized businesses.
With a focus on Internet Protocol (IP) functionality, this new open standard will allow remote monitoring of critical physical security functions over the Internet via a Web browser. Security product developers, service providers and customers can now assemble a web-enabled, cost-effective system. Icron has identified the following markets for OSPS:
Residential: Monitoring for motion detection, recording events, generating and investigating alarms.
Small Office Home Office (SOHO): As residential, plus monitoring multiple video sources, controlling access to premises, administrator control of user privileges.
Day Care: Enable browsing of on-site activities over Internet using secure connections.
Retail Outlets: Link with Point-Of-Sale systems, publish advertising and sales events on the Internet, video-conferencing.
Industrial: Support monitoring over extended range and in harsh environmental conditions.
Along with its announcement of the OSPS, Icron is launching a plan to market ExtremeUSB as a catalyst to enable security product and service providers to migrate their products from legacy systems to this unified and versatile platform. The OSPS will deliver the following benefits:
Open: Based on standards and equipment widely available from the computer and data communications industries. Components from multiple vendors can be mixed within the same system.
Plug and Play: Can be installed and maintained without specialized knowledge.
Convergent: Shares infrastructure with existing data and voice communications systems.
Affordable: Provides lower entry and maintenance costs than stand-alone, legacy systems.
Functional: Enables new features to be created through integration with other business systems.
Marketable: Applicable to a wide range of businesses from very small to the very large, worldwide.
Icron is encouraging the industry to assemble physical security systems that deliver these benefits. Icron is currently in discussions with developers of residential/SOHO surveillance software, enterprise surveillance software, makers of development tools and platforms, as well as makers of USB cameras, fingerprint readers and retinal scanners. Icron invites the industry to contribute to this initiative and welcomes input from software and hardware developers, integrators and service providers. Icron has installed a complete security system in its own corporate offices that makes use of components from multiple vendors, all connected by its ExtremeUSB technology. The company is demonstrating this system to potential business partners and investors.
Icron Technologies Corporation of Burnaby, B.C. has invented ExtremeUSB™ technology, a practical means of extending the range of USB 1.1 connections from 5 meters to over 100 meters. Icron has applied for patents covering its inventions and is integrating its technology into a series of products for computing applications. Icron is committed to working with its partners to increase the total market for USB products by enabling a broad set of new applications that utilize ExtremeUSB. Icron is a publicly traded company and trades under the symbol IT on the Canadian Venture Exchange Inc.
Icron Contacts:
Investor Relations: Ashiff Jivraj ashiff.jivraj@icron.com (604) 638-3923
Marketing: Kevin Lee kevin.lee@icron.com (604) 638-3924
Note: The company relies on litigation protection for “forward-looking” statements. The Canadian Venture Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Except for statements of historical fact, all statements in this news release – including, without limitation, statements regarding production estimates and future plans and objectives of Icron – are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.