Acquisition to Bolster Belkin’s Position in the Home Networking Market, Building on the Strong Linksys Brand and Innovative Suite of Product and Software Solutions
Kuala Lumpur. – January 25, 2013 – Belkin, a private company based in Playa Vista, Calif., with operations and sales in more than 100 countries, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Cisco’s Home Networking Business Unit, including its proven products, technology, well-known Linksys brand and talented employees. With global operations, Linksys’ main office is located in Irvine, Calif.
“We’re very excited about this announcement,” said Chet Pipkin, CEO of Belkin. “Our two organizations share many core beliefs – we have similar beginnings and share a passion for meeting the real needs of our customers through the strengths of an entrepreneurial culture. Belkin’s ultimate goal is to be the global leader in the connected home and wireless networking space and this acquisition is an important step to realizing that vision.”
Belkin intends to maintain the Linksys brand and will offer support for Linksys products as part of this transaction. All valid warranties will be honored by Belkin for current and future Linksys products. After the transaction closes, Belkin will account for approximately 30 percent of the U.S. retail home and small business networking market.
“Linksys pioneered wireless connectivity capability around the globe, and has a strong brand renowned for its premium market position, the strength of its installed base and its proven dependability. Linksys users benefit from peace of mind in their home networking environment. At Belkin we have developed great insight into consumer needs, and the experiences, solutions and products we bring to the market, including our WeMo home automation platform, will help us to grow Linksys’ market presence,” Pipkin said.
“Linksys is one of the leading home networking providers and has created a market-leading suite of products and services to meet customer needs,” said Hilton Romanski, VP Corporate Business Development, Cisco. “While part of Cisco, Linksys has continuously innovated, while strengthening the brand and expanding its market leadership. As part of Cisco’s commitment to service providers, we are pleased about this strategic relationship with Belkin to build on Linksys’ position of strength.”
”With complementary innovation and engineering strategies in the combined organization,Belkin will be able to create new opportunities for consumers, distribution partners and resellers, and will have the strongest retail presence in the U.S. networking marketplace. Belkin also will have access to a large installed base that will be able to upgrade their networking environment to take advantage of new technologies in the smartphone, tablet, notebook and home automation arenas,” Pipkin said. “Additionally, Linksys will enhance Belkin’s capabilities to meet the needs of the service provider space and small business users.”
Belkin and Cisco intend to develop a strategic relationship on a variety of initiatives including retail distribution, strategic marketing and products for the service provider market. Having access to Cisco’s specialized software solutions across all of Belkin’s product lines will bring a more seamless user experience for customers. Merging the innovation capabilities of Linksys and Belkin provides a powerful platform from which to develop the next generation of home networking technology.
“At Belkin, we’re committed to enabling great experiences for users of today’s mobile and connected home technologies,” Pipkin said. “The acquisition of Linksys and the combination of Belkin’s and Linksys’ expertise and innovation will position us to meet the demands of today’s rapidly evolving advances in technology. We look forward to honoring the heritage of the Linksys brand and investing in the continuing evolution of its product portfolio.Together, we will provide a powerful, simple to use, and reliable wireless and networking platform for the markets we serve.”
Specific financial terms of the transaction are undisclosed. The transaction is subject to various standard closing conditions and is expected to close in March 2013.
SCCyberworld
Friday, January 25, 2013
Belkin Announces Intent to Acquire Cisco’s Home Networking Business Unit
Thursday, October 6, 2011
BRINGING SEXY BLACK – CISCO TURNS UP THE STYLE FACTOR FOR MODERN HOMES
Sleek New Designs in Ultra Stylish Home Networking Products Combine Performance and Simplicity with Chic Sophistication
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 6 October 2011 – Decorating around technology can be an arduous process for new homeowners, interior designers and decorators. Today, Cisco unveiled its new suite of home networking products, featuring black sophistication to inspire modern home designs.
Held at Bakita Restaurant & Bar at the popular and upmarket Changkat Bukit Bintang, celebrity emcee and author Xandria Ooi hosted the intimate launch amongst some sixty invited media and guests. Working with Jade Yong, co-founder of the Home@8 interior design portal, the hosts teamed up with Cisco to redecorate the upper level of Bakita to simulate a stylish modern home interior – integrated with the new Linksys X3000 Advanced Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem Router and Linksys RE1000 Wireless-N Range Extender.
“At Cisco, we believe in offering the most enriching experience to our customers,” said Tang Boon Ping, Regional Sales Director, Asia, Cisco Home Networking Business Unit. “Technology is no longer just a means to communicate but an experience ingrained into our way of life. With Internet enabled TVs, tablets, game consoles and smart phones steadily appearing in every house, the Linksys suite of home networking products is poised to be the engine behind today’s connected home, providing the connectivity power and performance in a sleek stylish design.”
The Linksys suite of home networking products carries a sleek black design, following the award-winning design of the Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Wireless-N router which garnered Cisco the prestigious red dot design award for outstanding product design earlier this year. The Linksys E4200 wireless router emerged as one of the award winners from a total of 4,433 product entries from designers and companies in sixty countries in one of the most renowned international product design competitions.
Xandria, who recently moved into a new home with husband, music composer and producer, Yuri Wong, underlined how technology has become integral to decorating one’s home. She said, “Decorating our home around technology requires an art and Cisco has provided some smart solutions that are powerful, user-friendly and gorgeous to look at. Whether for work or play, home networking has become part and parcel of the modern lifestyle. The new Linksys products give me wireless freedom in every corner of my home but also blend seamlessly into the décor theme.”
Jade teamed up with popular DJ Serena C a year ago to set up their own online interior design portal, Home@8. She spoke on how the colour black has turned into a home trend amongst modern homes today.
“Serena and I travel extensively to different cities across the globe, experiencing their cultures and drawing inspirations for home designs which we write about on Home@8. We have constantly observed how black transforms the interior of a home by adding shadows for a sense of depth. It also adds colour accents to an otherwise dull palette. Without black, there is no avenue for contrast. The latest home networking products from Cisco accentuate the modern home perfectly with their sleek black design.”
The all-new Linksys X3000 modem router is an easy all-in-one solution that works with either a DSL or cable broadband connections to create a high speed wireless home network. For those who stay in a larger home, the Linksys RE1000 range extender helps boost the signal strength of the Wireless-N connection, extending the coverage of existing home wireless networks.
Pricing and Availability
The Linksys X3000 modem router and Linksys RE1000 range extender are commercially available at the following MSRPs and retailers in mid and late October 2011 respectively. For more product information, please visit the new Linksys website http://home.cisco.com/en-apac/home.
• Linksys X3000 Advanced Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem Router MSRP MYR 399.00
• and Linksys RE1000 Wireless-N Range Extender MSRP MYR 259.00
黑色旋风重现 – CISCO 为现代家居增添优美时尚
结合优雅设计、高超性能及简易使用的超时尚家居网络产品
吉隆坡2011年10月6日讯 – 对于新屋主、室内设计师或装潢设计师来说，在家居家庭科技用品是令人非常头痛的一件苦差。今天，Cisco推介了其全新的家居网络产品，以酷炫的性感黑色，为现代家居摆设添上优雅高贵的气质。
这场推介礼于隆市Changkat Bukit Bintang 的Bakita Restaurant & Bar 展开，由名主持人兼作家Xandria Ooi 向六十余位媒体记者及嘉宾展现新产品。Xandria Ooi 也与Home@8 室内设计门户网站创始人之一的Jade Yong联手为Bakita餐厅的一楼进行现代化的室内装潢- 添置了全新的Linksys X3000 Advanced Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem + Router以及Linksys RE1000 Wireless-N 范围扩展器。
“在Cisco，我们坚信为顾客提供最丰富的科技体验 ,” Cisco家居网络商务组的亚洲区销售总监 Tang Boon Ping先生说道。“科技不再仅仅是沟通的工具，它也是我们生活上不可或缺的一部分。现今的家居摆设包括了网络电视、平面屏幕、电玩、以及智能手机，Linksys 的家居网络产品配套将是现代家具摆设的必需品，为家居生活增添强稳的网络连接之余，也配上酷炫时尚的设计。”
Linksys的家居网络产品配套有着时髦的黑色外形，加上曾荣获今年初颁发的Red Dot设计大奖的Linksys E4200 Maximum Performance Wireless-N Router。在这项顶级的国际产品设计大赛中，Linksys E4200 无线Router从4,433项参赛设计作品中脱颖而出，成功击败六十个国家的设计师及参赛公司。
近来与从事音乐制作的夫婿Yuri Wong迁入新房子的Xandria说道科技产品已是家居摆设不容忽视的一环。她表示, “以科技产品为新房子进行家具摆设是一门艺术，而Cisco为我们提供智能的产品，不但有高超的性能，而且容易使用和设计前卫时尚。无论是工作或游戏，家居网络已是现代生活的一部分。全新的 Linksys 产品让我在房子内的各个角落都能享有无线的自由，同时又能完美地融入房子的设计主题。”
一年前，Jade 也与知名的电台名嘴Serena C设立了Home@8室内设计门户网站。她也解释了黑色如何逐渐成为现代家居的流行色系。
“我和Serena经常列游世界各地，体验不同的文化，吸取家居的设计灵感，我们也于Home@8页面中也有提及。我们经常增添影子氛围，并观察黑色系如何巧妙地改变室内格局。这些影子也能为单调的房子色调增添一些气息。没有了黑色，即没有色调的相对性。而全新的Cisco家居网络产品能以其时髦的黑色设计，完美地带出了现代家居的时尚感。”
全新的Linksys X3000 Modem + Router是一站式的解决方案，可与DSL 或有线宽频连接，提供高速的无线家居网络。那些房子较大的，则可使用Linksys RE1000 范围扩展器，它可提高Wireless-N 网络的讯号强度，伸展原有的家居无线网络的覆盖率。
价格与产品货源
Linksys X3000 Modem + Router以及Linksys RE1000 范围扩展器，可于2011年10月中至10月底，在以下的商店以厂商推荐价购取。欲知产品详情，请浏览全新的Linksys 官网 http://home.cisco.com/en-apac/home。
• Linksys X3000 Advanced Wireless-N ADSL2+ Modem + Router 厂商推荐价 399.00令吉
• 以及 Linksys RE1000 Wireless-N 范围扩展器 厂商推荐价 259.00令吉
Friday, May 22, 2009
Cisco’s Media-Enabled Home Experience Comes Alive in Malaysia
Digital lifestyle redefined with greater simplicity, powered by Linksys by Cisco new range of wireless media offerings
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia. May 21, 2009 – Cisco today showcased the Media-Enabled Home living concept that is designed to deliver a new class of compelling communication and entertainment experience. Set to take digital lifestyle to the next level, the concept extends and simplifies user’s reach to multimedia content such as photos, music, videos and files on multiple devices wherever they are at home. 
Leveraging on the combined capabilities of latest Linksys by Cisco wireless and media offerings, users can live a truly connected life that pushes the boundaries of home networking, which today is often limited to just sharing broadband Internet. The newly launched products include Linksys by Cisco WRT610N Dual-Band Wireless-N Router, WUSB600N Wireless-N USB Network Adapter with Dual Band, NMH300 Media Hub and WVC54GCA Wireless-G Internet Home Monitoring Camera.
Facts/ Highlights:· Started as a vision, the Media-Enabled Home is now made possible with Cisco’s superior networking technology that does more than connecting devices – it connects people to an entertainment experience like no other. No wires, no being constrained to one location within home and no strenuous process of managing separate tools. Instead, home users can now experience the freedom of true wireless entertainment with high-quality audio and visuals that can be accessed quickly and easily.
· According to research group Wireless Federation, the wireless penetration level in Malaysia is projected to increase to 96.8% in 2010 attributed to the growing adoption of mobile devices. The upward development of broadband, with the Internet and video becoming a source of home entertainment prepares an inroad for Malaysians to embrace the connected life. The Media-Enabled Home is a timely concept that will reverberate with home entertainment lovers as well as the wireless Internet enthusiasts.
· Poised to deliver this experience to Malaysian homes, Cisco is bringing a series of new Linksys by Cisco wireless and media offerings that build the foundation of Media-Enabled Home. The products are designed to simplify Media-Enabled Home setup with user-friendly applications, making them suitable for average home users. The products also combine the new design factor that fits virtually any home, without compromising on wireless performance, reliability and quality.
· New products launched:
o Linksys by Cisco WRT610N Simultaneous Dual-Band Wireless Router – Supporting the latest Wireless-N standard, the WRT610N is Linksys by Cisco’s flagship router that is designed to deliver double the bandwidth and media-optimized performance so you can enjoy it more smoothly, with less lag, all around your home. It provides faster wireless connectivity with fewer interruptions with two bands of Wireless-N, today’s most advanced wireless technology. The 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands are designed to work separately yet simultaneously, so you can easily customize your ideal configuration – for example, use the 2.4GHz band to surf, email and print while keeping the less crowded 5GHz band free for time sensitive traffic like music, gaming and high-definition video.
o Linksys by Cisco WUSB600N Wireless-N USB Network Adapter with Dual Band – To fully leverage the capabilities of the Wireless-N standard, the WUSB600N is the perfect complement of the Wireless-N router to bring user greater freedom and convenience of flexible, fast and wide-range wireless connectivity for the computer. Wireless-N dual-band capability offers the flexibility to connect on either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency, so user can access both types of Wireless-N networks, virtually anywhere they go. The compact and portable adapter comes with a step-by-step wizard that makes it easy to configure, and powerful WPA2 security encryption.
o Linksys by Cisco NMH300 Media Hub – Designed to simplify access to and interaction with digital content, the Media Hub gathers, organizes, and presents all the digital video, photos and music that users have spread amongst various devices in the home. With a Media Hub consumers can enjoy all of their media through an easy to use interface that is not only accessible in the home, but throughout the world via a web browser[1]. The Media Hub is the perfect solution for consumers with extensive digital media libraries who are looking to eliminate the complexity of managing their collections.
o Linksys by Cisco WVC54GCA Wireless-G Internet Home Monitoring Camera – Small, single-unit camera designed to deliver high-quality live video and audio wirelessly to your home network. It does not need to be connected to a computer as the built-in Web-server is designed to allow it to stream imagery and sound directly via Wireless-G or Ethernet connectivity. Perfect for keeping an eye on family, property, or anything deemed important at home.
[1] A period of Remote Access is included from date of activation. Fees may apply thereafter and are subject to change.
www.linksysbycisco.com for further information and details of terms and conditions applicable to the Remote Access service.
Monday, June 16, 2008
LINKSYS ANNOUNCES NEXT-GENERATION WIRELESS ROUTERS
“The new range of routers showcases the way in which Linksys is taking Wireless-G and Wireless-N to new levels of design, performance and ease of use. We believe that the sleek new router design is sympathetic to modern living whereas traditional routers have been hidden in a cupboard or behind a curtain,” said Tang Boon Ping, Linksys Regional Sales Director, Asia. “But it is not only the design that make these products attractive – installing a home network with the wireless router or connecting additional devices is simplified with our new Linksys EasyLink Advisor including the improved set-up wizard.”
New Form Factor
Designed to take the router out of the study and into the living room, the WRT54G2, WRT160N and the WRT310N all come with a shiny finish, alluring curves and slim profile which refreshes and revamp the industrial design on Linksys router models. These products were created to fit in virtually any home.
This new emphasis on design is not just a bold statement on form, but also an evolution of the functional aspects of the router. The new sleek design features an internal antenna technology which integrates the antenna into the router body without compromising signal coverage.
Linksys took an extensive approach to developing the new industrial designs. Detailed market research was conducted to reveal consumer preferences for design. Out of the over 160 designs that were reviewed, consumers showed preferences for sleek, contemporary designs which illustrated high performance and blended seamlessly with trendy homes or high trends office environments.
LELA: so far for techno talk!
Besides the new design, the WRT54G2, WRT160N and the WRT310N are shipped with the Linksys EasyLink Advisor (LELA) application, which is a technology advisor that helps setting up, managing and connecting additional products to the network. This simple-to-use software package is designed to take away the technical hassle setting up wireless network and helps keeping the network highly secure and connected.
LELA will automatically check for updates for all Linksys products on the network, and can securely configure other connected devices and computers. The intuitive interface can help simplify set-up and maintenance of a home network – making it easier and more accessible than ever before!
Users without networking experience can appreciate how LELA can help scan the network for issues, troubleshoot and attempt to resolve any potential conflicts. No more techno talk or passwords required.
Security with a push of a button
Helping to keeping a network safe and secure can be configured with just one simple button on the WRT54G2, WRT160N and the WRT310N. The WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) feature is designed to help make securing wireless devices easier. Simply push the WPS button on the router and on another WPS-enabled wireless device to automatically create an encrypted wireless connection between them.
Pricing and Availability
The WRT54G2, WRT160N and WRT310N will be available in mid June 2008 from authorized distributors, key retailers and value-added resellers. The manufacturer’s sales recommended prices are as follows:
· WRT54G2 - RM175
· WRT160N - RM320
· WRT310N - RM469
