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Tag: Belkin

  • Apple Opens Find My to Third Parties

    Apple Opens Find My to Third Parties

    Apple has opened its Find My service to third parties, making it possible to track third-party devices via the app.

    Until now, Apple’s Find My app has allowed a user to find their Macs, iPads, iPhones and AirPods. With Apple rumored to be working on AirTags, small devices that can be affixed to other items for tracking, AirTags will also likely be accessible via Find My.

    In the meantime, new products from Belkin, Chipolo, and VanMoof will be available for tracking beginning next week.

    “For more than a decade, our customers have relied on Find My to locate their missing or stolen Apple devices, all while protecting their privacy,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Now we’re bringing the powerful finding capabilities of Find My, one of our most popular services, to more people with the Find My network accessory program. We’re thrilled to see how Belkin, Chipolo, and VanMoof are utilizing this technology, and can’t wait to see what other partners create.”

    As one of Apple’s more useful, everyday services, it’s good to see the company opening Find My to other companies and products.

  • Belkin’s Acquisition Of Linksys Is Now Complete

    Belkin’s Acquisition Of Linksys Is Now Complete

    In January, Cisco announced that Belkin would acquire its Home Networking Business Unit and its leading brand, Linksys. Today, Belkin announced that the Linksys acquisition is complete.

    Belkin now possesses Linksys routers and other Smart Wi-Fi products. They will be managed as a separate brand and product portfolio.

    Belkin CEO Chet Pipkin had this to say: “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. 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.”

    “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,” said 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.”

    Customers can expect more Linksys-branded products coming out of the pipeline, and support for existing products will continue through the existing channels.

    Terms of the deal were never disclosed.

  • Belkin To Acquire Linksys From Cisco

    Belkin To Acquire Linksys From Cisco

    Cisco announced today in a blog post that Belkin will acquire Cisco’s Home Networking Business Unit and its leading brand, Linksys. Cisco had been rumored to be looking to get rid of Linksys, and now it appears it has found a buyer.

    Cisco VP, Head of Corporate Business Development, Hilton Romanski writes:

    Linksys is a strong and enduring brand with a talented team that has helped revolutionize the way we experience the world from our homes through a wide range of home routing and networking solutions with innovative software features that enable anytime, anywhere access and control of the home network and its connected devices.

    Combined, Belkin and Linksys will create a world-class consumer networking technology provider with complementary innovation and engineering strategies. Linksys will enhance Belkin’s capabilities to meet the needs of OEMs, as well as provide access to a large user base. Belkin and Cisco intend to pursue a strategic relationship focused on a variety of initiatives including retail distribution, strategic marketing and products for the service provider market.

    Belkin shortly thereafter put out a press release announcing the acquisition intent, but did not disclose the terms.

    Belkin CEO Chet Pipkin says, “We’re very excited about this announcement. 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.”

    Cisco announced its own intent to acquire Intucell earlier this week.

  • CES 2012: Belkin’s Thunderbolt Express Dock Coming in September

    Belkin, a company that specializes in connectivity accessories, unveiled the new Thunderbolt Express dock at CES today. The dock is designed to allow users to take fuller advantage of the new Thunderbolt technology found on an increasing number of computers, most notably those made by Apple.

    The dock sports a remarkable array of connector ports: 3 USB 2.0, HDMI, ethernet, firewire, and a 3.5 mm audio port. It also has two Thunderbolt ports – one upstream, one down. It allows simultaneous use of multiple devices, meaning that users can plug one Thunderbolt cable into their computers, and gain instant access to anything plugged into the dock.

    The Thunderbolt Express Dock retails for $299 and will be available in September.

    [Source: Belkin Press Release]