AOL to Offer Home Networking Solution

America Online will soon provide a home networking solution to its members. Currently available in beta form, AOL Network Magic monitors network status, shares files and printers throughout the home and enables remote access to digital assets through the Web. AOL Network Magic lays down the brick and mortar to construct AOL's vision of the "digital home."

Although the final code will not be widely available until later this year, AOL is offering attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show a sneak peak. AOL told BetaNews that Network Magic is a customized version of Pure Networks' home network software solution.

The software monitors PCs and connected devices and can join additional devices -- barring a few exceptions -- to the network with a single click. An "at a glance" view displays the status of networked devices as well as information such as device name, manufacturer and model number. When the software encounters network problems, it will automatically attempt to fix and troubleshoot them.

"Making the AOL service go to work for our members no matter how they access it is pivotal and we chose to work with Pure Networks because we share a common vision of making the AOL 'digital home' easy-to-use and manage," said David Park, Executive Director, AOL Digital Services, America Online, Inc. "Even with home networking on the rise, the technology can be complex and difficult to manage. With AOL Network Magic, we will deliver a product that is simple, intuitive and helps maximize the value of a home network."

A Parks Associates survey has found that over half of broadband households in the US have a home network installed today, and projects that as many as 40 million U.S. households will have home networks by 2007.