Cisco Systems is making home wireless networks easier for both savvy consumers and those who want simplicity. Cisco's Valet and Valet Plus use Cisco Connect software to set up a network in three steps and provide parent controls and a guest network. The Linksys E-series routers also come with Cisco Connect, but give users advanced features.
Cisco Systems unveiled a new Linksys router lineup Wednesday that promises to make it easier for consumers to customize and control their home wireless networks. Cisco also is copying the design simplicity of its Flip Video products in a new wireless router called Valet.
The new Linksys E-series devices are intended to serve the company's core technology-minded consumer base, while the new Valet is "home wireless made easy," said Cisco Systems Senior Vice President Jonathan Kaplan.
"Consumers have felt powerless and frustrated with the entire process of home wireless, but with Valet we are tearing down the walls and opening it up to everyone," Kaplan said. "The market for wireless-enabled products is exploding and now mainstream users will be able to take full advantage of all the new opportunities."
Valet and Valet Plus
Cisco's push to make wireless routing easier for consumers is based on the perception that there remains room for growth. According to IDC, only one-third of U.S. homes are set up for wireless use.
Valet ships with Cisco Connect software that reduces the complexity of getting a home wireless network Relevant Products/Services up and running to three steps. Moreover, the USB-enabled setup key that ships with each unit retains all setup information Relevant Products/Services, allowing users to add computing Relevant Products/Services devices to the network at any time by inserting the key and letting Cisco's software do the rest.
Once the home wireless system Relevant Products/Services is up and running, users can set parental controls as well as provide Internet access for guests on a separate guest network. Parents also will be able to use Cisco Connect to limit children's web usage to certain days and times, or even for temporary periods.
The Valet, which is suitable for small to midsize homes with primarily wireless devices, is priced at $99.99. The Valet Plus, for midsize to large homes with a mix of wireless and wired devices, is priced at $149.99. Both products are available immediately from Amazon, Staples and Linksys.com.
Linksys E-Series
By contrast, Cisco's Linksys E-Series routers are designed with more sophisticated users. Once the home network is configured, users will be able to add multiple Internet-capable devices and set parental controls for each computer or device. Also available are a variety of other advanced features, available through the router's default IP address.
Just like the company's Valet products, the Linksys E-series ships with Cisco Connect, which enables users to give visitors password-protected Internet access on a separate guest network. Moreover, the new router's software will automatically assign a WPA security Relevant Products/Services passkey and SSID -- sparing users the muss and fuss.
"The Cisco Connect software is both on Linksys and Valet," said Cisco spokesperson Karen Sohl. "The set-up process is the same -- except Linksys has the CD experience, while Valet has the USB setup key experience."
Priced at $79.99, the Linksys E1000 is designed to connect computers and other devices at speeds up to 300 Mbps. By contrast, the mid-range Linksys E2100L ($119.99) and the high-end Linksys E3000 ($179.99) use 802.11n to connect computers, gaming consoles, Internet-enabled HDTVs, and Blu-ray players, Cisco said.
The Linksys E2100L sports selectable dual-band (2.4-GHz or 5-GHz) technology, while the E3000 delivers both bands simultaneously. Additionally, the Linksys E3000 features a built-in UPnP AV media server Relevant Products/Services that delivers smoother streaming of entertainment content to gaming platforms like the Xbox 360 or the PlayStation 3 as well as Internet-enabled HDTVs and Blu-ray players.
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