In a new report announced by Pike Research, Industrial Defender tops the Leaders quadrant for Smart Grid cyber security, scoring highest on both strategy and execution in this rapidly growing market.  The Pike Pulse Report: Smart Grid Cyber Security Threat Management evaluates 15 of the leading cyber security threat management vendors in the smart grid market and rates them on 12 criteria for strategy and execution, including vision, go-to-market strategy, partnerships, product strategy and roadmap, technical innovation, geographic reach, market share, sales and marketing,

Ambient Corporation, a leading provider of flexible and scalable smart grid communications platforms and technologies, announced today that its Ambient Smart Grid communications nodes now include Qualcomm's mobile broadband solution, the MDM6600 chipset. This chipset adds a new level of communications flexibility to the award winning Ambient Smart Grid communications platform, and is certified by Verizon Wireless for use in its wireless network.

Tres Amigas, the US-based national grid interconnection project known as the Tres Amigas SuperStation, announced that Mitsui, a global trading, IT and industrial infrastructure services company, has agreed to invest $12 million. In exchange, Mitsui will obtain an equity position and actively participate. By partnering with Tres Amigas, Mitsui plans to further internationalize their "Smart Green Information Technology" business model, which includes Smart Grid IT, renewable energy development and management, and CO2 emissions mitigation strategies.

Amino and Celeno are collaborating to develop a new range of whole home wireless networking solutions. Amino’s IPTV Over-the-Top (OTT) solutions is to leverage Celeno’s OptimizAIR to deliver IPTV, multi-room DVR, Over the Top video and Video on Demand (VoD), in high definition wirelessly.  The new range is to allow telecom operators to offer a compelling mix of broadcast, on-demand and content from the Internet including social media, gaming and applications.

Qualcomm Atheros has developed a media shifting platform around its Skifta framework.  The new Skifta Media shifting platform will allow CE manufacturers to develop Skifta powered devices that will allow us to wirelessly access and stream entertainment content around the home.  The Skifta Wireless Audio Adapter hardware kit will be the first component to be release – in the first quarter of this year.

In the coming year OEMs are to receive a new range of Trident’s Internet Connected 3DTV. The Televisions are based on Trident’s 3D Cinemascope technology which includes support to the latest online services such as Yahoo!, Rovi, VUDU, RoxioNow, Pandora, Flingo. The hardware includes Trident’s TV550 system-on-a-chip (SoC) and PNX5120/30 frame rate converter (FRC) to offer true cinematic experience by providing crystal clear 3D images.

Sonos customers in Australia and New Zealand can now access Rdio services through Sonos. The wireless music systems developer announced that Rdio’s more than 12 million song library services is accessible through Sono own platform.  From an Android smartphone or tablet, iPhone or iPad Sonos makes it easier to access on-demand music plus your own stored on different devices around your home.

Itron has announced that they have partnership with Cisco to brought to market their combined next-generation smart grid platform, delivering on the companies' vision to create a secure, scalable and multi-service IPv6-based communications architecture. This next-generation platform will help utilities accelerate adoption and simplify deployment of smart grid solutions, reduce the total cost of ownership of these systems, and unleash innovation for smart grid applications and technologies in the marketplace.

Itron announced that, in partnership with Cisco, it has brought to market their combined next-generation smart grid platform, delivering on the companies’ vision to create a secure, scalable and multi-service IPv6-based communications architecture. This next-generation platform will help utilities accelerate adoption and simplify deployment of smart grid solutions, reduce the total cost of ownership of these systems, and unleash innovation for smart grid applications and technologies in the marketplace.

Avoid the need to mix your home networking devices, with the Amplifi range you get all the sevices you want from the same range.  Now they have expanded the range to include the HD Media Router 3000 (DIR-857) with SharePort Cloud technology and the Wireless N Powerline Gigabit Router (DHP-1565). Both devices offer high networking speeds for today’s most demanding home applications, such as HD media streaming and online gaming.