Linksys First to Ship Newest, Fastest Generation of MIMO-Based Products


IRVINE, Calif., Nov. 28 / -- Linksys®, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc., the recognized leading provider of voice, wireless and networking hardware for the consumer, Small Office/Home Office (SOHO) and small business customer, today announced it is shipping the first products to reach the market from the next generation of MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) technology. When used together, the WRT54GX4 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX400 and WPC54GX4 Wireless-G PC Card with SRX400 can provide faster throughput, reduced dead spots, and increased wireless range compared to traditional Wireless-G networks.

"We believe that being the first company to actually bring this new generation of MIMO products to market reinforces the Linksys heritage of offering the most advanced networking technology to our customers," said Mani Dhillon, director, product marketing, Linksys. "With the WRT54GX4 and WPC54GX4, users can utilize the fastest wireless technology available today to stream digital entertainment content around their homes, make business and personal phone calls using Voice over IP, and enjoy greater range than ever before."

SRX - Speed and Range Expansion

SRX400 products are based on MIMO technology, a key component in the upcoming Wireless-N standard (802.11n). By overlaying the signals of two Wireless-G compatible radios, MIMO has the capacity to double data transfer rates. The maximum wireless data transfer rates of the SRX400 actually exceed the capabilities of the traditional wired Ethernet 10/100 data ports that are in place on most computer networks.

MIMO technology utilizes signal reflections that can hinder performance in typical wireless products to increase range and reduce "dead spots" in the wireless network, enabling the coverage area to be increased by up to three times that of Wireless-G.

Friendly Neighbor Policy

As has been always been the case with MIMO-based products from Linksys, SRX400 users can realize the benefits of the technology, while diminishing risk of reduced performance in the presence of other wireless networks. The WRT54GX4 dynamically enables a double-speed mode for SRX400 devices, while still being designed to seamlessly operate with other 802.11 certified wireless devices at their respective fastest available speeds. SRX Routers will also enhance the performance of non-SRX devices by allowing them to connect at further distances than standard Wireless-G routers.

Security

To help protect data and privacy, the WRT54GX4 can encode all wireless transmissions with industrial-strength WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encryption. It can serve as a network DHCP server, supports VPN pass-through, and has a powerful SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) firewall to protect against intruders and most known Internet attacks. Enabling these security features on the WRT54GX4 is easy with the Linksys Web browser-based configuration utility.

Pricing and Availability

The WRT54GX4 and WPC54GX4 are available now through Linksys e-commerce resellers at estimated street prices of $149.99 and $99.99 respectively. The products will soon also be available from retail, direct response, and VAR partners.

About Linksys

Founded in 1988, Linksys, a Division of Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) is the recognized leader in Voice, Wireless and Ethernet networking hardware for consumer, SOHO and small business users. Linksys is dedicated to making networking easy and affordable for its customers, offering innovative, award- winning products that seamlessly integrate with a variety of devices and applications. Linksys provides award-winning product support to its customers. For more information, visit www.linksys.com.

Note: Reference to speeds and performance are based on standards and specifications. Actual performance may vary based on environmental considerations and network configurations.

Linksys is a registered trademark or trademark of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and certain other countries. Other brands and products are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Source: Linksys

CONTACT: Media: Karen Sohl of Linksys, +1-949-823-1578, ksohl@cisco.com, or Trevor Bratton, +1-949-823-1212, trevor.bratton@cisco.com; or Investor
Relations: Ken Bond, of Cisco, +1-408-526-6001, kbond@cisco.com

Web site: www.linksys.com

All Topics