Belkin is set to become a major player in the networking market after acquiring Cisco’s struggling Linksys operation. The acquisition was made as arch rival Logitech was witnessing another slump in value after the company posted a loss in its most recent quarter.
Last week, Logitech’s general manager in Australia Annabelle Woods quit the Swiss Company after they announced they were getting out of the speaker docks, Harmony remote and console gaming peripherals markets. The Company is also trying to sell their video conference division. Woods, who saw Logitech dumped from Harvey Norman after the Company chose to sell their products online, was the former national retail sales manager and has seen several senior executives exit the Company some under questionable circumstances.
The move by Belkin to strengthen their networking offering will see the US Company grab a major share of the networking market in Australia up against Netgear and D Link. Unlike Cisco ,who struggled in the consumer market, Belkin has excellent retail relationships and a strong distributor network.
Currently Belkin sells web cameras, smartphone and tablet accessories, power cables and Belkin network gear. At the recent CES Show, the Company announced an expansion into home automation which Ian McLean, the General Manager of their Australian operation, said will see automation products offered in Australia by the second half.
In the US Belkin will hold a 30 percent share of the home and small-business networking market.
