A home networking control platform will be among the fruits of the deal struck between Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd and Nintendo Co Ltd over Nintendo’s next generation ‘Dolphin’ video game console. Matsushita will use the architecture of the Dolphin box to develop a digital platform, code-named X21, which will function as a hub for its Home Information Infrastructure (HII) system. HII is a networking architecture for connecting and controlling domestic audio and video equipment, and white goods. Rival architectures include Sony Corp’s HAVi specification. Matsushita plans compatibility between the Dolphin console and the X21 network controller, which will be sold under the Matsushita brand name, as essential to encourage the take-up of home networks. According to Nikkei Multimedia, the X21 will be released in 2001.
