Linksys has made its first foray into Bluetooth with the launch of the Bluetooth USB Adapter. The first Bluetooth device from the company, which is a division of network giant Cisco, the adapter connects a notebook or desktop PC to a Bluetooth Personal Area Network, allowing the user to connect with other Bluetooth-enabled devices such as phones, PDAs, or printers.
“As the market leader in consumer wireless networking, Linksys provides support for both current and emerging wireless standards,” said Steve Troyer, director of product marketing for Linksys. “With our Bluetooth USB Adapter, we make networking easier for anyone who has recently purchased a new Bluetooth-enabled device.”
The adapter allows the user to connect up to seven Bluetooth-compatible devices simultaneously. There is no need for an external power supply since the adapter is powered directly from the USB port. Like all Bluetooth devices, the adapter uses 28-bit encryption and “frequency hopping” for data security. The Bluetooth USB Adapter is a Class 2 Bluetooth device, which is designed to allow communication at up to 100 metres.
Linksys has also added to its core wireless networking business with the launch of a new range of 802.11g products, under the family name Wireless-G with SpeedBooster. The line includes a Wireless-G router, PC card, and PCI adapter.
“Our customers worldwide want more performance but they also want currently installed products and future wireless products added to the network to work well together. It is highly likely that users will have a mixed network of Linksys clients, game or media adapters, and also laptops with embedded wireless clients like Intel’s Centrino,” said Troyer. “Our SpeedBooster products can provide faster wireless throughput in real-world environments without negative impact on the performance of nearby wireless systems.”
The products are designed to be backward compatible with the existing installed base of 802.11b/g products, and include additional security options. These include an advanced parental control system, which allows users to set restrictions on internet access. The SpeedBooster technology, built on Broadcom’s Afterburner technology, can boost network performance by up to 35%, according to Linksys.
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