Siemens launches home-networking line

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By Sam Costello

(IDG) -- Siemens AG, through its subsidiary Efficient Networks, released on Monday a new family of wireless and traditional home networking products that includes routers, hubs, and adapter cards aimed at users with high-speed Internet access.

The company unveiled 11 new SpeedStream home networking products designed to allow home users with multiple computers to share a single broadband Internet connection among all their PCs. In order to share a connection, users must have a DSL/cable router, which Siemens provides in three new models: the SpeedStream 2602, 2614, and 2623.

The SpeedStream 2602 is a two-port DSL/cable router that offers users two 10/100 Ethernet ports for networking. The 2614 has four 10/100 ports, as well as print server software to allow all users on the network to share a single printer. The 2614 also allows a separate dial-up modem to be attached to the device as a backup in case high-speed access is lost.

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The SpeedStream 2623 is a wireless router that allows home PCs with wireless access cards to share an Internet connection. The router uses the 802.11b wireless ethernet standard, which transmits at up to 11 megabits per second; offers three 10/100 ports, a print server, and a backup modem; and provides both 64-bit and 128-bit encryption to boost the security of wireless connections.

All three routers are shipping in North America and will hit European stores in the first quarter of 2002. The SpeedStream 2602 costs $79.99; the 2614, $99.99; and the 2623, $239.99.

Cards Also Needed

In order to access these routers, users will need either ethernet or wireless cards in their PCs. As part of Monday's announcement, Siemens said that it would provide those very products. The company rolled out a series of PCI (Peripheral Component Interface), PC Card, and USB (Universal Serial Bus) 10/100 ethernet and wireless adapters. All of the adapters work in PCs running Microsoft Windows 95, 98, Millennium Edition, 2000, and XP.

The company also announced a five-port 10/100 ethernet switch and a five-port 10Base-T Ethernet hub for expanding home networks to support more devices.