Telkonet Picks Up Smart Systems, EthoStream
By Adam Kirby, Associate Editor -- Hotels, 5/1/2007
Communications platform provider Telkonet has acquired energy management company Smart Systems International and wireless Internet provider EthoStream, making the combined company a major player in the hospitality technology sector. More than 2,100 hotels use technology from at least one of the companies, and another 400 are awaiting installs. Those customers can expect to see enhanced customer service and price points that leverage the three companies' collective technological expertise, says Telkonet CEO Ron Pickett.The purchase of EthoStream for US$11.7 million is a solid, logical pickup for Marylandbased Telkonet. EthoStream already used Telkonet's powerline communicationsbased iWire System as the broadband Internet backbone for many of its hotel installations, so the acquisition is a natural fit. EthoStream will continue to exist as an independent brand, but its wireless service will be marketed in a bundle together with Telkonet's electrical infrastructure package.
Telkonet's US$7 million buyout of Smart Systems, however, is a bit more intriguing. Smart Systems' chief product is its patented Recovery Time technology, which senses when a guestroom is unoccupied and powers down the room's energy use. Smart Systems claims the unit saves hotels up to 30% on energy bills.
Now, Telkonet plans to integrate the technology with iWire and EthoStream's wireless network to create a Web-based Enterprise Energy Management System, allowing hotel management to monitor and adjust guestroom settings from anywhere.
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