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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Card Access Announces InHome™ Wireless Contact Switch for Award-Winning Control4 Home Automation System

Wireless Switch is First Third-Party Product Developed Specifically for Control4’s IP-Based Home Control and Entertainment Systems

CEDIA EXPO 2006 in Denver, Colorado – September 14, 2006 – Card Access ™, Inc., a leading developer of wireless communications products, today announced the InHome™ Wireless Contact Switch. For use in Control4 ® home electronic systems, the InHome Wireless Contact Switch combines the features of a contact switch, thermometer and ZigBee™ (802.15.4) router/repeater into a single, battery-powered device. The product allows wireless monitoring of garage doors, gates, windows, and pool or spa covers in locations inside or outside the home and triggers Control4’s home automation functions based on the contacts’ open and closed states.

In its first public showing, the InHome Wireless Contact Switch is being demonstrated in the Control4 exhibit (booth #634) at this week’s Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) Expo 2006 in Denver , Colorado .

“Control4 congratulates Card Access on this product announcement,” said Glen Mella, president and chief operating officer of Salt Lake City-based Control4. “As the industry has awarded recognition for Control4’s home automation innovation, this first third-party product designed specifically for Control4 is a welcome addition to our ecosystem. Our Control4 Partner Program is designed to support such third-party manufacturers as Card Access to easily integrate their devices to work across Control4 automation systems.”

Working with the home automation installer’s preferred contact switches, motion and temperature sensors, the InHome Wireless Contact Switch easily integrates into the Control4 system. The Wireless Contact Switch also includes its own integrated magnetic contact switch and temperature sensor for ‘turn-key installation. These functions appear in Control4 systems as three contact inputs and two thermometer inputs. The result is extended home automation control for the most remote of locations and applications inside or outside the home.

Typical applications for the InHome Wireless Contact Switch include contact sensing for:

  • Garage doors
  • External doors
  • Shed doors and windows
  • Fencing and entry gate doors
  • Pool and spa covers
  • Mailboxes

“The InHome Wireless Contact Switch is perfect for new home construction and retrofit home automation,” said Kent Hansen, president of Card Access. “From a recessed basement room to the edge of the homeowner’s property, the Wireless Contact Switch adds automated features to almost any contact sensor the home automation installer uses today—and does it with batteries and without the need for the wire. We really extend the benefits and enjoyment of the Control4-automated home into new applications where running a wire just isn’t practical—or possible.”

Product Specifications

In a small form factor of 3.1”(L) x 2.6”(W) x 1.05”(H), the InHome Wireless Contact Switch accepts AWG 16-28 wiring from external contacts and includes connections for:

  • three external contact inputs (Digital Input 1, Digital Input 2, and External Thermistor 1) sharing a common ground
  • Positive and negative terminals for optional low voltage (ranging from 6-36V) DC power

The InHome Wireless Contact Switch’s integrated product functions include:

  • Built-in Reed Switch—an integrated magnetic contact switch requiring an external magnet
  • Built-in Thermistor for temperature sensing.

The InHome Wireless Contact Switch operates from one to two years on two (2) standard “AA” 1.5V alkaline batteries, and includes LED indicators communicate power / battery strength, network state and radio frequency (RF) signal strength.

Availability and Pricing

The Card Access InHome Wireless Contact Switch will be sold by Card Access directly to Control4 dealers and installers. It will be available for purchase in November of 2006 for an estimated selling price of $USD119 and an introductory price of USD$99 per unit. Optional accessories including a magnetic contact, an external thermistor, and a North American 12V DC power supply will be available from Card Access. Quantity discounts for the product and its accessories will also be available.

For more information, please visit www.cardaccess-inc.com.

ABOUT CARD ACCESS

Founded in 1995, Card Access™, Inc. is a leading developer of wireless communications products. World-class organizations in the medical, military and home consumer markets rely on Card Access for development of high-performance, low-power, miniaturized, mobilized and ruggedized wireless communications solutions. Card Access, Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Salt Lake City , Utah . For more information, visit www.cardaccess-inc.com or call 1.801.748.4900.

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For more information contact:

Kip Meacham
Phone: +1 801.362.0696
E-mail: kmeacham@cardaccess-inc.com 

Card Access, InHome and Wires Not Included are trademarks of Card Access, Inc. ZigBee is a trademark of the ZigBee Alliance . CEDIA is a trademark of the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association. Control4 is a registered trademark of Control4 Inc. Other marks may be the property of their respective owners.