Falling in love with a new Cisco router for your home network? Cisco unveiled on Thursday a new line of Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers with app-enabled capabilities, the EA Series (EA4500, EA3500 and EA2700). The so-called “Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers” all feature 802.11n technology, ranging in price from $99 for the EA2700 to $139 for the EA3500 to $199 for the high-end EA4500.
The three new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers offer exceptional wireless performance and maximum throughput, as well as support for Cisco Connect(TM) Cloud, the next generation of Cisco Connect software, which provides simple anytime, anywhere management of multiple home networks. Cisco also announced it is working with top device manufacturers to simplify their networked products, (such as TVs, entertainment devices and home appliances) enabling new consumer experiences in the future.
“The proliferation of wireless devices and the explosion of video streaming have redefined the importance of the home network. Today’s connected consumer has high expectations for reliability, simplicity, and software and apps that grow with them over time,” said Brett Wingo, vice president and general manager, Cisco Home Networking. “Our new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers are game-changing products that put intelligence into the home network so consumers have a platform that makes it easy to manage and optimize their devices, and enjoy apps that deliver great new experiences.”
The new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers (the EA Series: EA4500, EA3500 and EA2700) deliver the latest home Wi-Fi technology and offer a range of prices and performance for active online homes — easily handling everything from streaming HD video and multiplayer gaming to downloading large files, adding storage or printers, and connecting multiple devices. These advanced wireless capabilities are timely considering that globally there will be 15 billion networked devices in 2015, up from 7 billion in 2010.* Home networks will need to support an increasing number of devices added to the home, the bandwidth required to run all the devices, and the ability to easily and more securely add and manage these devices.
Software intelligence in the home network is increasingly critical to enabling a new category of apps for new home experiences. The new Linksys EA-Series is now app enabled, to provide consumers with all-new, anytime and anywhere experiences and solutions in areas such as home control, entertainment and protection.
New Cisco Connect Cloud Extends Home Networking Options
Cisco Connect is the highly acclaimed software that guides consumers through simple setup and management of their Linksys E-Series and X-Series home routers. Cisco Connect Express is the company’s first mobile app providing home network management from smart phones and tablets while on the home network. The next generation of Cisco Connect software, called Cisco Connect Cloud, works with new Linksys EA-Series products and enhances the users’ experience by giving them anytime, anywhere access to multiple home networks, from their smart mobile device, tablet app or web browser. Users can give guests Internet access, set parental controls, and add devices to their network from anywhere at any time through Cisco Connect Cloud’s easy-to-use password-protected site. New apps coming from Cisco and partners will deliver additional capabilities for connected devices, so that consumers can benefit from improved home network experiences right away and for years to come.
Partners See Home Network Opportunity
Cisco is currently working with Whirlpool and more than two dozen other industry-leading companies, app developers and service providers who view the home network as a new frontier for providing innovative solutions for consumers.
“We are collaborating with Cisco to create compelling consumer solutions in the smart grid and connected home space,” said Warwick Stirling, Global director of Energy and sustainability for Whirlpool. “The next generation of Cisco home Smart Wi-Fi Routers together with our smart appliances will allow consumers to effortlessly control their devices in or away from their home.”
“We are fortunate to have high demand from top-tier partners in all segments of technology and business that share our vision for a simple connected home enabled by the network. Cisco is known worldwide for working with partners to deliver great experiences to our mutual customers, and these new Linksys products expand those opportunities into the home,” Wingo added.
The Linksys EA Series is now available at major retailers including Amazon.com, Best Buy, New Egg, Target and Walmart, as well as the Linksys online store.
The new Cisco Connect Cloud Web-based software is planned for availability worldwide at no additional cost in June. New apps and partner solutions that take advantage of the Cisco home network platform are also planned for availability in June, with details to be announced at that time.
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