Powerline networking chipmaker DS2 announced today that it has developed a new powerline technology that operates at a 400Mbps peak data rate.

The new technology is said to be compatible with existing 200 Mbps products from DS2 and will be available sometime in 2009.

Demonstration of the new technology will be featured at an invitation-only launch in New York City next month.

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance today announced its intent to certify IEEE 1901 products. The certification will be based on the HomePlug Alliance’s recently merged proposal.

The merged proposal [related story] recently submitted by HomePlug and Panasonic to the IEEE P1901 Work Group offers the efficiency of a single MAC and the flexibility to support both the HD-PLC and HomePlug AV PHYs.

It is unclear whether the merged proposal includes interoperability and coexistence with powerline products based on DS2's competing technology. A HomePlug Alliance spokesperson directed a request for clarification of this issue to the chair of the IEEE P 1901 work group, who did not respond.

The HomePlug Powerline Alliance today announced that HomePlug and Panasonic have merged their technical submissions to the IEEE P1901 Work Group for Broadband over Powerline (BPL) to submit a joint proposal.

The merged submission offers a single MAC to support both the HD-PLC and HomePlug AV PHYs. As a result, future products based on the merged P1901 proposal can be fully interoperable with existing HomePlug AV and Panasonic HD-PLC products.

The IEEE P1901 group is developing a communications standard for high-speed powerline devices. The standard will be usable by all classes of high-speed BPL products, including networking devices for the first-mile/last-mile connection to broadband services and consumer products providing in-home networking and multimedia distribution. The IEEE P1901 Work Group is expected to approve a proposal later this year.

D-Link yesterday announced its membership in the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA), an open, industry-driven initiative promoting distribution of digital video, data and entertainment through existing coaxial cable in the home.

D-Link currently has no products with MoCA-compliant features.

The HomePNA Alliance today announced that three more companies have joined. The new members are CAIW, a Dutch cable service provider of television, Internet and radio, Ooma, a VoIP handset and service provider, and Phybridge, a gateway manufacturer.

HomePNA creates, promotes and certifies home networking over existing coax cables and phone wires to deliver Internet Protocol (IP) services like IPTV, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and data.

SmallNetBuilder has learned that Belkin has discontinued its Pulse network monitoring product, which was announced in April. A company spokesperson was not able to provide a specific reason for pulling the product.

Pulse might have been conceived as a natural extension of Belkin's Datacenter product line, which includes cabling, racks and UPS products. But the product never really got into distribution and was quietly cancelled sometime in the past month.

Pulse was based on technology from privately-funded JumpNode Systems, which is based in Minneapolis. JumpNode is actively selling its own version of the product, primarily through resellers.

Intellon yesterday announced the release of its second-generation HomePlug AV powerline communications IC. The INT6300 uses "architectural and design improvements" to deliver enhanced 200 Mbps HomePlug AV performance at a 25% cost savings compared to Intellon's first generation HomePlug AV chipset.

ZyXEL today announced what it claims is the first all-in-one ADSL2+ gateway with built-in HomePlug AV.

The P-660HWP series features a built-in HomePlug AV (HPAV) adapter, providing up to 200 Mbps raw LAN data rate for triple-play services. It supports ADSL2+ speeds up to 24 Mbps as well as Reach-Extended ADSL (RE ADSL) for higher speed at longer distances.

Netgear today announced a power adapter with built-in HomePlug 1.0 network interface.

The XEPS103 Space-Saving Powerline Network Extender replaces a router's existing 12V / 1A power adapter and supplies both power to the router or gateway and an 85 Mbps HomePlug 1.0 network connection. The Extender reduces clutter by requiring only one plug to supply both power and a network extension.

Linksys today rolled out a new round of services and products aimed at increasing its share of the small business networking market and forming a tighter bond with parent Cisco's VAR programs.

Along with a new financing program through Wells Fargo and enhancements to its Linksys Partner Connection Program for VARs, two new gigabit smart switches and two new Linksys One Service routers were announced.