IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 2, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- A leader in wireless device networking technology, Lantronix, Inc. (Nasdaq: LTRX) today announced the 3rd edition of its popular Wireless Design Contest. This year's contest challenges engineers, students and hobbyists to develop a creative and practical wireless product using Lantronix new MatchPort(tm) b/g , an 802.11 b/g embedded wireless device server module. With MatchPort b/g, contestants can add WiFi to virtually any electronic device with a serial interface so it can be accessed, monitored and controlled wirelessly over the Internet.
To enter, contestants simply submit their application concept through the Lantronix Web site and later submit a working prototype design. All design entries must be received on or before March 3, 2008. Winners will be announced at the Embedded Systems Conference (April 14-18, 2008) in San Jose, Calif.
Entries will be judged on technical merit, originality, business value, cost-effectiveness and design optimization. In addition to travel compensation to the awards ceremony at ESC, Lantronix will award cash prizes for the following categories:
* First Place - $6,000 * Second Place - $4,000 * Third Place - $2,000 * Best Entry from a Student/Educational Facility - $3,000 * Most Likely to Succeed - $2,000... a new category this year for the most commercially-viable design
"Wireless technology continues to make a major impact by significantly enhancing the value of products and services that OEMs deliver to their customers," said Chris Preston, senior vice president of marketing for Lantronix. "As a pioneer in WiFi-enablement solutions, our market-leading modules have been designed into products in just about every industry and a myriad of diverse applications."
Preston continued, "The Wireless Design Contest is yet another example of our ongoing commitment to accelerate the innovation of wireless device networking. Year over year, the number of entries continues to grow. We expect this year's contest to generate even more innovative designs that further demonstrate the near limitless potential of wireless devices that can be managed over IP-based networks."
The 2007 WDC winners included:
First Place ($6,000): Damien Hubaux and his engineering team from CETIC in Belgium for their SAND (Smart Adaptable Network Device) System, a small, autonomous and flexible embedded system based on a 'soft processor.' The SAND System can be used by transportation companies looking to acquire objective data about its driver's behavior in order to better train workers and decrease fuel consumption.
Second Place ($4,000): Kevin Hubbard, from Washington, for his WiFi Clock, a fully functional alarm clock with Internet access. With its unique features, the WiFi Clock provides end users an innovative design to retrieve customized, real-time information such as weather, news or email.
Third Place ($2,000) : Mohamad Abou El-Nasr, assistant professor at the Arab Academy for Science and Technology in Egypt. His Wi-Aquarium allows users to remotely control and monitor an aquarium anytime from anywhere in the world, and ensures an optimum aquarium environment and healthy fish.
For all contest details, including rules, entry form and more information on past winners, visit www.lantronix.com/wirelesscontest.
About Lantronix MatchPort b/g
Part of the MatchPort family of form-factor and pin-compatible wired/wireless device networking modules, MatchPort b/g allows designers to quickly and easily build 802.11 connectivity and web services into any product allowing the ability for remote device configuration and monitoring. It includes an embedded operating system, full-featured network protocol stack, a radio system driver, a built-in web server and Windows deployment software all in a compact 45mm x 45mm with 40-pin 2mm header. MatchPort b/g also includes 2MB of Flash memory for web page storage and firmware and supports 802.11i/PSK, WPA-PSK and AES encryption to ensure data security and integrity.
For more information, please visit: www.lantronix.com/matchport
About Lantronix
Lantronix, Inc. (Nasdaq:LTRX) is a leading innovator in device networking technology. The company specializes in wired and wireless hardware and software solutions which allow virtually any electronic product to be network enabled in order to remotely access, monitor and control it over a network or the Internet. The Lantronix Device Network Architecture (DNA) includes Device Enablement solutions which provide a direct network connection to equipment and machines for remote monitoring and control, and Management and Control solutions which extend the ability to remotely manage IT equipment and literally thousands of networked devices, regardless of location, from a central point of access. Lantronix provides customizable technologies and solutions that are used by original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) and design engineers to network enable their products, IT administrators to manage data center and network infrastructure, and systems integrators to provide complete, remote device management solutions for their customers. With nearly two decades of networking expertise and more than 30,000 customers worldwide, Lantronix solutions are used in every major vertical market including security, industrial and building automation, medical, transportation, retail/POS, financial, government, consumer electronics/appliances, IT/data center, and pro-AV/signage. The company's headquarters are located in Irvine, Calif. For more information, visit www.lantronix.com.
Lantronix is a registered trademark, and MatchPort is a trademark of Lantronix, Inc. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
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