Cisco announced today that it is purchasing Seattle-based Pure Networks, which specializes in home networking offerings, for $120 million.
Cisco cited the growing need for better home networking technology as one of the reasons it’s buying Pure Networks.
Pure Networks currently partners with Cisco to provide the software infrastructure and tools used to create the Linksys Easy Link Advisor (LELA), which allows a consumer to set up, organize, manage, secure and use a home network.
“With the rapid proliferation of networking technology and new consumer electronics devices, the ability to quickly and easily connect to a range of devices, content and services throughout the home is becoming paramount to achieving a satisfying consumer experience,” said Ned Hooper, SVP for Cisco’s Corporate Development and Consumer Group. “Pure Networks’ network-management innovations will provide Cisco and Linksys with a key underpinning to take home networking to the next level of ease of use.”
Cisco expects the deal to close in the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, once the regulatory hurdles have been cleared. Pure Networks’ employees will stay in Seattle, but the company will be merged into Linksys.
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