Broadcom, HP and Linksys Teams Up for Wi-Fi Installation

Broadcom Corporation (www.broadcom.com), HP (www.hp.com), and Linksys®, a division of Cisco Systems, Inc., announced a new technology that is expected to revolutionize Wi-Fi® installation and stimulate the development and deployment of new classes of wireless products for home networks.

The three companies have collaborated to promote SecureEasySetup™, which enables consumers to effortlessly set up their wireless networks and activate Wi-Fi Protected Access™ (WPA™) security by simply pushing a button. Linksys and HP plan to offer the first Wi-Fi products with the new push-button solution that is powered by Broadcom® SecureEasySetup software and 54g™ chipsets.

SecureEasySetup eliminates the current hurdles to broad adoption of home Wi-Fi products by delivering true ease of use and automated security. The software enables wireless home networks based on best-of-breed devices from multiple vendors, providing new and better consumer experiences for sharing content throughout the home.

Traditional wireless LAN installation can be a complicated and time-consuming task, requiring the user to possess the technical know-how to manually enter several settings (such as network name, and encryption key or WPA pass phrase) on each Wi-Fi device. SecureEasySetup dramatically simplifies installation by automating the processes of configuring new wireless networks and adding devices to existing networks. After a user pushes the SecureEasySetup button on their Linksys router and wireless device - or uses access point setup software on their notebook computer - SecureEasySetup establishes a private connection between the devices and automatically configures the network's Service Set Identifier (SSID) while enabling WPA security.

"Our latest wireless silicon solutions address the cost, size and power consumption requirements to enable next-generation Wi-Fi products," said Jeff Thermond, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Home and Wireless Business Unit. "The new SecureEasySetup software addresses the most basic need of all - improving the way that all of these wireless devices work together."

Push-button configuration makes Wi-Fi practical for a variety of new platforms and devices. Manual Wi-Fi installation requires the use of a keyboard and/or display, making it difficult to configure non-PC devices. The SecureEasySetup push-button eliminates the need for a user interface, enabling manufacturers to embed high-performance Wi-Fi capabilities into even more products, including consumer electronics without screens or keypads (such as printers and digital cameras) and non-Windows® devices (such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones and digital video equipment).