03.13.2008 — Mike Seamons, an industry icon in the Media Center movement, is going to work for Microsoft—a crowning achievement for a Media Center fanatic who started his career as “a little integrator,” as he puts it.

Seamons is leaving Exceptional Innovation, which he helped launch four years ago with CEO Seale Moorer.

For all of those years, he’s been the face of the company, pushing integrators to embrace the Media Center platform and EI’s Lifeware automation software.

No doubt, Seamons’ departure from EI will cause quite a stir in an industry that has been skeptical of Media Center and, in particular, an integration-oriented company that has risked so much on the platform.

But before this becomes a scandal, consider that Seamons is only one of more than 100 employees.

“I’ve had the privilege of being the face of Lifeware for four years,” he says, “but the strategic development is driven by a number of people. Seale [Moorer] drives the vision and holds the key relationships.”

As VP of marketing, Seamons has been responsible for building the EI and Lifeware brands, and he’s sure done that.

“We’re at a phase where we no longer need to drive the brand,” he says. “Now we’re really helping dealers implement Lifeware.”

Seamons says that EI’s dealer base is growing rapidly—standing now at more than 600 dealers—and that Lifeware training courses are completely booked through the summer. In fact, the company just hired two new trainers.

And so, Seamons explains, the timing was perfect when the Microsoft offer came up. Beginning in April, he will become product manager in the eHome group, a new position.

His role? “To drive Media Center into all markets worldwide.”

It’s a perfect job for someone who “made a big bet on Media Center a long time ago.” He became a partner at a small integration firm, Temecula, Calif.-based Custom Home Control, in 2001.

There, he and partner Max Greene created what was possibly the first Media Center interface for home control. At the Electronic House Expo Fall 2002, the duo demonstrated the control of thermostats, security and other devices through a Media Center interface.

It was a revelation!

He recalls, “I thought it [Media Center] was going to change the world. I’ll be darned if that doesn’t happen.” (Yes, he really did say “darned.")

And so, he’s off to Microsoft to make it happen.

Seale Moorer believes Seamons can do just that. “There could be no better person going to work for Microsoft for our cause,” he says.

“Mike is so passionate about Media Center, and that voice is better coming from within Microsoft instead of outside by you and me.”

While Moorer is still sold on Media Center, he thinks Seamons “can help fix a few things that are awkward so it can be the best entertainment platform in the world.”

Why Now?

What’s with the timing? We’re learning of Seamons’ departure on the first day of EHX.

He says the timing makes sense because the whole EI team is available here in Orlando to address any questions from dealers and partners. EI wants to avoid any mystery that might surround Seamons’ move.

“The stars have aligned as Lifeware matures in the market and Microsoft is at a key stage in making Media Center a viable entertainment platform for our industry,” Moorer says.

“The need to bring education and awareness to Media Center has never been greater, and Seamons has proven to be one of the best in the business at making that happen.”

I couldn’t agree more. EI has come a long way in these few years. Lifeware version 2.0.3 with Vista is worlds apart from the 1.0 version I learned at dealer training in 2005.

Microsoft would be crazy not to snag this passionista, and Seamons would be nuts to resist his dream job.

Besides, this father of six has family out West, and they all planned to head back there sooner rather than later. You try getting six young kids on an airplane for the holidays.

I like to think I “discovered” Mike at EHX back in 2002 (correction: 2003), and I wish the best to him and his family.

Mike Seamons demonstrating possibly the first home-automation product for Media Center at EHX Fall 2003 in Long Beach, Calif.