Sunbeam, Maytag want your home networked

Sunbeam Corp. (TRADES: SOC) and Maytag Corp. (NYSE: MYG) both announced plans today to develop technology to link home appliances using home networking. Sunbeam has signed deals with emWare, a networking company, and ZiLOG Inc., a microprocessor manufacturer, to develop its Home Linking technology. Maytag said it would work with Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) and develop "smart home" appliances based on Universal Plug and Play. Last week, General Electric Co. (NYSE: GE) also said it would work with Microsoft to develop smart appliances. -- Margaret Kane, ZDNet News