Cisco wants to sell its Linksys wireless router business

据外媒报道，Cisco has engaged Barclays to find buyers for the Linksys wireless router business.

 

According to sources, some TV manufacturers may be interested in Linksys, as it will help them strengthen their brand and technology. Cisco acquired Linksys in 2003 for $500 million, and the sale price may be much lower than that, as home routers are already a low-margin, mature consumer business.

 

Spokespeople for Cisco and Barclays declined to comment on this news.

 

Cisco is currently executing a strategy to exit multiple consumer businesses while strengthening enterprise software and technology services. The sale of Linksys is part of this strategy. Due to Cisco's poor performance in entering the consumer market, CEO John Chambers laid off 7,800 employees over the past year and shut down businesses such as Flip video cameras.

 

In addition to Linksys, Cisco also owns the Scientific Atlanta set-top box business in the U.S. and pay-per-view electricity视频道软件开发商NDS Group。后者的软件被英国天空广播集团、Canal Plus和DirecTV所使用。思科今年7月以50亿美元的价格收购了NDS。

 

Barclays is currently also assisting Google in selling Motorola Mobile's home business. The main products of this business include set-top boxes and devices used by cable TV operators.