Belkin acquires Linksys, plans to continue marketing products under both brands
Linksys and Cisco are no longer one. The enterprise infrastructure giant, which acquired the home networking line in 2003, has officially passed the baton to Belkin. Under the new arrangement, Linksys devices and services, such as routers and Smart WiFi products, will fall under the Belkin umbrella. CEO Chet Pipkin announced plans to maintain both brands, adding that Linksys "will continue to exist and evolve to include even richer user experiences and network management functionality." Going forward, teams from both Linksys and Belkin may work together to create certain products, so we might begin to see new innovations that wouldn't have been possible otherwise. Consumers are unlikely to experience any hiccups during the transition -- the Linksys website will remain intact and support services will be available as always. Hit up the press release after the break for a few more details surrounding the acquisition.
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Belkin Completes Acquisition of Linksys
PLAYA VISTA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Belkin today announced the completion of its acquisition of Linksys. Linksys' technologies, including its routers and the popular and innovative Smart Wi-Fi portfolio and services, will be managed and maintained as a separate brand and product portfolio.
"Linksys has a rich heritage, a passionate customer base and a wide product line, all of which fueled our decision to acquire the company and our plan to maintain the Linksys brand," said Chet Pipkin, CEO of Belkin. "The Linksys portfolio will continue to exist and evolve to include even richer user experiences and network management functionality. Smart Wi-Fi is an innovative and easy way for consumers to stay connected to their home network and we look to continue investing in it by adding more features and products."
Linksys customers and retailers will continue to see new Linksys products come to market in the near future, starting with several announcements in the spring time frame. By maintaining the Belkin and Linksys brands in home networking, Belkin aims to address a broader range of consumers with distinct networking solutions and will create the premier ecosystem for mobile devices and smart homes.
Support for Linksys products remains available through the existing Linksys support channels. For service, Linksys customers should go to the support page on the Linksys website. All valid warranties will be honored for current and future Linksys products.
"A lot of exciting things are happening in today's connected lifestyle segment, and we are honored to continue the Linksys brand and enable new connected experiences," added Pipkin. "Linksys and Belkin are now one team. We are ready to do fantastic things as a team and deliver products that delight consumers and support the increasingly connected, mobile world."
