Linksys facts for kids
Linksys Holdings, Inc. is a well-known brand that makes computer networking equipment. This equipment helps people connect their devices to the internet at home and in small businesses. Linksys was started in 1988 by a couple named Victor and Janie Tsao, who came from Taiwan to the United States.
Linksys makes many products, including Wi-Fi routers, which help create a wireless internet connection in your home. They also make mesh Wi-Fi systems, Wi-Fi extenders, and network switches. These products help make sure your internet connection is fast and reliable. Linksys products are sold all over the world, both online and in stores.
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry | Networking equipment |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founders | Victor Tsao Janie Tsao |
| Headquarters | |
| Products | Routers, DSL/cable gateways, switches, wireless access points, storage and security IP cameras |
| Parent | Cisco Systems (2003–2013) Belkin (2013–2018) Foxconn (2018–present) |
History of Linksys
Linksys began in 1988 in the garage of Janie and Victor Tsao's home in Irvine, California. The company was first called DEW International. The Tsaos were immigrants from Taiwan. They used their connections to manufacturers in Taiwan to help their business grow.
The first products Linksys made were "printer sharers." These devices allowed several computers to connect to one printer. Later, the company started making other networking items like Ethernet hubs and network cards. By 1992, the Tsaos were working on Linksys full-time. They moved the company to a proper office. By 1994, Linksys had 55 employees and made $6.5 million in sales each year.
A big moment for Linksys came in 1995. This was when Microsoft released Windows 95, which had built-in networking features. This made more people interested in Linksys products. Linksys then started selling its products in big stores like Fry's Electronics and Best Buy. In the late 1990s, Linksys became very popular for home networking. This was because they released the first affordable router that could connect many devices. By 2003, Linksys had 305 employees and over $500 million in sales.
In 2003, a large company called Cisco bought Linksys. Cisco expanded Linksys's product line. They bought a company called Sipura Technology in 2005. This allowed Linksys to sell products for making phone calls over the internet (VoIP). In 2008, Cisco also bought Pure Networks, a company that made software for managing home networks.
In 2013, Cisco decided to sell its home networking part, including Linksys, to another company called Belkin. This deal gave Belkin a large share of the home router market.
Then, in 2018, Belkin and all its brands, including Linksys, were bought by Foxconn. Foxconn is a very large electronics company from Taiwan.
In 2021, Harry Dewhirst became the CEO of Linksys. A cybersecurity company called Fortinet invested in Linksys. They wanted to focus on making home networks safer for people working from home. In 2023, Linksys started to grow even more globally. They opened new offices in Taiwan and the Netherlands.
Linksys Products
Linksys first sold simple connectors for computers and printers. Over time, they moved into more advanced ways of connecting networks. These included wired Ethernet and wireless technologies. Today, their networking products include Gigabit switches, Wi-Fi routers, and intelligent mesh Wi-Fi systems. They also make Wi-Fi extenders and access points.
In 2019, Linksys introduced Linksys Aware. This system uses your Velop Triband Wi-Fi system to detect movement in your home. It can alert you if there's activity. In 2020, Linksys released Linksys Shield. This is a service that helps parents control what their children can see online. It works with the Velop AC2200 Triband system.
The company also announced Linksys Cloud Manager 2.0. This tool helps businesses manage their Wi-Fi networks.
Routers
Linksys released its first Wi-Fi router in 2001. They have continued to release new routers as Wi-Fi technology improves.
One famous router was the WRT54G. It was special because its software was based on the Linux operating system. Later versions used different software and had less memory. However, the original Linux model was still available as the WRT54GL.
In 2017, Linksys launched the Velop line. This is a mesh router system with multiple units. It uses three Wi-Fi radios to provide strong Wi-Fi coverage.
Linksys started selling smart routers and Velop Mesh Wi-Fi for homes in 2020. In 2021, they launched their first Wi-Fi 6E certified systems. These included the Hydra Pro 6E router and the Atlas Max 6E mesh system. In 2022, they released the Hydra Pro 6, a slightly simpler version.
Wi-Fi Systems
The Linksys Intelligent Mesh line, called Velop, helps provide faster internet speeds throughout a home or office. It uses special nodes that work together to create a strong Wi-Fi network. In 2019, Linksys was the first to use mesh nodes as motion sensors. They could detect movement using Wi-Fi signals, without needing other sensor devices.
Linksys also sells Wi-Fi extenders. These devices work with most Wi-Fi routers. They help get rid of "dead zones" where the Wi-Fi signal is weak. They do this by wirelessly connecting to your main router.
In 2018, Linksys released its cloud-based Wi-Fi management system for businesses. This is called the Linksys Cloud Manager.
Linksys offers mesh Wi-Fi routers built for Wi-Fi 6. This technology provides much faster speeds and more capacity than older Wi-Fi 5 systems. The mesh Velop Wi-Fi 6 was announced in 2019.
In 2020, Linksys introduced 5G mobile hotspots and other 5G networking devices. At CES 2021, Linksys announced new Velop mesh systems and routers that support Wi-Fi 6E.
HomeWRK
HomeWRK is a special Wi-Fi 6 router system. It has two parts that work together to create a mesh network. This system provides separate Wi-Fi networks for your personal use and for work. It also includes security features from Fortinet. These features help block harmful software and filter online content.
See also
In Spanish: Linksys para niños
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