SAN JOSE, CAJune 27, 2012 - Cisco today announced its
first Linksys® Smart Wi-Fi Router and Universal Media
Connector both powered by the industry's
next-generation wireless technology, 802.11ac. The new
technology is designed to deliver wireless speeds
approximately three times faster than the current
wireless 802.11n standard[i]. The new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi
Router EA6500 uniquely blends the highest performance
802.11ac technology with Cisco's intelligent Cisco
Connect™ Cloud software platform for an experience that
is both powerful and intuitive, simplifying how consumers
connect, control and interact with their home devices and
appliances.
Timing of this announcement comes as laptop and smart
phone manufacturers are expected to start introducing
802.11ac products towards the end of 2012. Consumers can
also take advantage of the new technology by connecting
their smart TVs, game consoles and other devices to the
new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router via the new Linksys
Universal Media Connector.
"The power of 802.11ac technology coupled with
Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers, our game-changing new
software platform and mobile capabilities enables all new
experiences in and out of the home that consumers
can't get with any other solution," said Brett
Wingo, vice president and general manager, Cisco Home
Networking. "As consumers begin the transition to
the new Wi-Fi technology, Linksys is introducing a
solution that not only includes a powerful product, but
has new innovation that enables them to stay connected to
their devices and home wireless networks from anywhere,
anytime. We deliver the most complete solution, from
performance to usability to customer satisfaction."
Next Generation Wireless Performance
The new Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router with AC technology is
backwards compatible with prior wireless networks and
devices using 802.11a/b/g/n. This assures consumers can
upgrade to the new Linksys 802.11ac products and still
have full interoperability with legacy Wi-Fi devices. As
new 802.11ac devices such as smartphones and tablets
enter the market, consumers will be able to take full
advantage of the new capabilities and power with their
Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router that offers 802.11ac
performance.
The Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router EA6500 contains six
internal 3D antennae that are designed to insure the same
performance whether placed on a desktop or mounted
against the wall. Additionally, it features an elegant
new design that was inspired by the award-winning Linksys
E4200 model to complement any home décor.
Ideal for video and mobile devices
The new 802.11ac technology is optimized to meet the
explosive increase in video consumption and the
proliferation of wireless devices in the home. Cisco
expects[ii] that in 2016 there will be 19 billion
connected devices globally and that 1.2 million minutes
of video will be viewed online every second. The new
wireless technology has been designed to improve speed,
range and reliability and also helps to improve power
consumption for mobile devices. This is becoming
increasingly important to provide good connectivity for
the growing amount of mobile devices that enter the home
and will also help provide the type of quality
connectivity required for a range of activities including
watching live TV or on demand video in the living room,
study or bedroom.
Universal Media Connector
The new Linksys Universal Media Connector enables
consumers to connect wired devices such as Smart TVs and
game consoles to their Wi-Fi network and stream HD or
even 3D HD video content wirelessly -and has been
optimized to work with the Linksys Smart Wi-FI Router
EA6500. The connector operates in the 5Ghz band that
offers less interference for a clearer signal.
Additionally, with four gigabit ports users can connect a
variety of entertainment devices in the living room to
the Internet at incredibly fast speeds.
Smart Wi-Fi: Fast, Easy and Flexible - Anywhere
As with all Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers, the EA6500 comes
with Cisco Connect Cloud, the cloud platform that has
been designed to provide convenient anytime, anywhere
access to the home network and its connected devices -
from a web browser or mobile device. Consumers can now
enjoy new mobile apps and experiences on their Android
and iOS mobile devices from Cisco and third party
developers that are part of the Linksys Developer
Community. To help simplify connectivity further, Cisco
has integrated SimpleTapä into the new Cisco Connect
Cloud mobile app. With SimpleTapä, consumers can connect
devices with as little as one tap of a button and in the
future even by swiping their NFC-enabled smart phone over
an NFC tag to connect to the network powered by a Linksys
Smart Wi-Fi Router EA6500. Cisco is currently working
with consumer electronics and home appliance brands to
include SimpleTap technology into a variety of products.
For more information on Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Routers with
Cisco Connect Cloud, new mobile capabilities and
SimpleTap, please see today's press release that can
be found
here.
Product Specifications
|
Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router with AC - Specifications
|
|
Model:
|
EA6500
|
|
2.4Ghz Band
|
|
Wireless technology
|
802.11n (backwards compatible with 802.11b/g)
|
|
Speed
|
Up to 450Mbps
|
|
Transmit/receive:
|
3 x 3
|
|
Antennas:
|
6 internal antennae with high-power amplifiers
|
|
5Ghz Band
|
|
Wireless technology
|
802.11ac (backwards compatible with 802.11a/n)
|
|
Speed
|
Up to 1300Mbps
|
|
Transmit/receive:
|
3 x 3
|
|
Antennas:
|
6 internal antennae with high-power amplifiers
|
|
Other
|
|
Cisco Connect Cloud
|
Yes
|
|
Mobile Apps
|
Yes
|
|
USB ports:
|
2 (shared storage, virtual USB and media server)
|
|
Ports x speed:
|
4 x Gigabit LAN / 1 x Gigabit WAN
|
|
IPv6 support:
|
Native IPv6 and 6rd support
|
|
Setup:
|
Cisco Connect CD Install
|
|
Setup OS compatibility:
|
Windows & Mac
|
|
Package contents:
|
-
Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router 802.11ac
-
Quick start guide
-
CD-ROM with setup software and resources
-
Ethernet cable
-
Power adapter
|
|
Linksys Universal Media Connector with AC -
specifications
|
|
Model:
|
WUMC710
|
|
Wireless technology:
|
802.11ac (backwards compatible with 802.11a/n)
|
|
Bands:
|
5 GHz
|
|
Transmit/Receive
|
3 x 3
|
|
Antennas:
|
3 internal antennae with high-power amplifiers
|
|
Ports x Speed
|
4 x Gigabit
|
|
Setup:
|
Push-Button Wi-Fi Protected Setup™
|
|
Package Contents
|
-
Linksys Univeral Media Connector
-
CD-ROM with Documentation Resources
-
Ethernet Cable
-
AC Power Adapter
|
The Linksys Smart Wi-Fi Router EA6500 is targeted for
availability in early August at major retailers including
Amazon.com, Best Buy, New Egg, Target and Walmart, as
well as the Linksys online store.
The Linksys Universal Media Connector is expected in
September at the same outlets.
About Cisco
Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in
networking that transforms how people connect,
communicate and collaborate. Cisco's vision for the
consumer is to transform the home network into a
solutions and services platform that delivers great
customer experiences. Further information about Cisco and
its full line of consumer products including Linksys can
be found at www.linksys.com.
Follow Us:
Cisco, the Cisco logo and Linksys are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Cisco and/or its affiliates in
the U.S. and other countries. A listing of Cisco's
trademarks can be found at www.cisco.com/go/trademarks.
Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of
their respective owners. The use of the word partner does
not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and
any other company.
[i] Maximum Performance derived from IEEE Standard
802.11 specifications (draft specifications for
802.11ac). Actual performance can vary, including
lower wireless network capacity, data throughput
rate, range and coverage. Performance depends upon
many factors, conditions and variables, including
products used, interference and other adverse
conditions. 802.11ac 1300 Mbps in the 5GHz Band is
approximately 3 x faster than 802.11n 450 Mbps in the
2.4GHz Band. An 802.11ac adapter will be needed to
achieve 11ac data rates and up to 1300 Mbps wireless
speeds may be achieved when connecting to other
802.11ac 1300 Mbps devices.
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