Homega Research announces its 9th tour program offering European and Asian Companies a comprehensive overview of the North-American Connected Home markets

This tour program enables participants to assess the state & perspectives for the North-American Connected Home markets and to substantially develop their network of international contacts. From May 4 to 9, participants will visit the most advanced pilot sites (approximately 7 visits) and attend Connections2003, a leading North-American Conference and Showcase on Digital Home Technologies.

SOPHIA ANTIPOLIS, FRANCE, February 19, 2003 - Net-atHomeTrip2003 (www.net-athome.com/trip03), now in its 9th year, is the annual study trip to North America organized by Homega Research (www.homega-research.com), a division of Sigma Consultants (www.sigma-consultants.com). This tour program enables participants to assess the state & perspectives for the North-American Connected Home markets and to substantially develop their network of international contacts. From May 4 to 9, participants will visit the most advanced pilot sites (approximately 7 visits) and attend Connections2003, a leading North-American Conference and Showcase on Digital Home Technologies.

The aim of these visits is to allow on-site analysis of encountered problems and implemented solutions, from technological, partnership, marketing and organizational viewpoints. Pilot sites have been carefully selected according to their innovation and ability to provide positive experiences to participants, that could inspire their own companys projects" explains Roger Torrenti, CEO and founder of Sigma Consultants.

The list of pilot and demo sites visited during the last Net-atHomeTrips becomes quite impressive: MIT Home of the Future, ConEd & Ambient Corporation PLC, Eagle Broadbands FTTH pilot community, CompUSA Digital Living Center, Premise Systems demo home, Microsoft eHome, Jefferson Project, Custom Home Control, Playa Vista Community, Cisco Internet Home, Mission Bay Community, Vicinium Sundance Community, ViaLight FFTH Community, Echelon Demo Room, Bell South and Scientific Atlanta, PG&E, 2Wire, Sage Systems, EPRI, CellNet Data Systems, IBM Community, Itron, etc.

Connections2003 will be held this year in San Jose (California) on May 8 & 9, 2003. Connections is a leading North-American Conference & Showcase dedicated to Digital Home Technologies including broadband-related services, residential gateways, home networks, digital entertainment and home management solutions.

Karine Valin, General Manager of Homega Research, insists on the essential networking aspects of the study trip: beyond pilot site visits and the Connections2003 attendance in California, the tour agenda also allows great opportunities for participants to network in relaxed environments: welcoming drinks, kick-off meeting, lunches & dinners, wrap-up meeting, a special farewell evening, etc. We feel very satisfied when observing that even many years after the trip participants remain in touch or work together."

The Net-atHomeTrips bring together manufacturers from different sectors (white goods, computer and consumer electronics, energy, telecoms, etc.), service companies (utilities, telcos, watercos, cablecos), companies specializing in multimedia content, silicon and component manufacturers, software companies, integrators, state research laboratories, business angels, etc.

Roger Torrenti, CEO and founder of Sigma Consultants will join the group. Roger Torrenti has been directly involved in the first developments of technologies and services for the home. He has had the pleasure over the years to work closely with numerous key players on the European and global markets. Roger's contribution to the trip will be significant and most probably of high interest to the group.

Net-atHomeTrip2002 provided me with an extensive set of information thoroughly focused on the subject. Actually, nothing was out of interest to me. I also enjoyed the very friendly talking and sharing of information among the group", said Jean-Pierre Trieb, Marketing Director for Legrand Group.

Net-atHomeTrip2003 is part of the Net-atHome (www.net-athome.com) business events program including workshops, conferences, exhibitions and study trips.

About Homega Research
Homega Research is a division of Sigma Consultants specializing in Technologies and Services for the Home. It has developed its activities from the expertise and experience Sigma Consultants has acquired in this domain since the company's creation in 1984. The objective of Homega Research is to fast become one of the key players worldwide in the field of studies, research and business events focusing on Technologies and Services for the Home. Homega Research is located in Sophia Antipolis, a technology park often called "The European Silicon Valley", close to Nice Côte dAzur International airport, on the French Riviera.

Warning: although the greatest care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information developed in this document, Sigma Consultants can assume no legal responsibility for the information and opinions developed within it.