Belkin on Tuesday has released 4 new 802.11.n wireless router line namely Basic, Surf, Share and PlayMax routers. All 4 routers share the same basic functionality, but PlayMax series is the star of the show and deserve the attention.

Router has evolved from simply a communication tool, to be even more social tool and close to customers. With hardware is now playing smaller role to woo customer to any product, which is now revolving the software or, simply called apps, the inclusion of apps in Playmax is very timely.

Playmax has variety of app beside the communication software. You’ll find apps for music and photos, apps to print via wireless, app for backup etc. Isn’t that cool? You know, where on earth you ever think you could do that with, erm.. a router, right? But, that’s before and today, Belkin has come out with something special for that.

• Self Healing: Automatically detects and resolves network problems and runs routine maintenance scans to give the clearest wireless channel. Available on Basic, Surf, Share, and Play Max.
• Memory Safe: Automatically backs up precious photos and important files to an external hard drive. Available on Share and Play Max
• Print Genie: Print wirelessly from any computer on the network from anywhere in the home. Available on Share and Play Max.
• Music Mover: Play MP3s from a music library on the home stereo wirelessly. Connect an external hard drive on which to store music to the router—and move music from a computer to the stereo through devices like Xbox 360® and PlayStation® 3. Available on Play Max.
• Music Labeler: Automatically identifies and labels tracks with the correct title, artist, and genre. Available on Play Max.
• Daily DJ: Get daily personalized playlists from a music library based on your mood. Available on Play Max.
• Torrent Genie: Downloads large media files like movies, music, and games, even when the computer isn’t on. Available on Play Max.
• Bit Boost™: Prioritizes traffic on the network for video, gaming, and VoIP, allowing easy selection of the most important data streams for seamless network traffic. Available on Play Max.

The new Belkin router will available near you by mid of this July. So stay tune for now.

From left: Basic, Surf, Share, Playmax Routers

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Belkin Presents a New Way of Thinking with the Introduction of Apps in New 802.11n Wireless Router Line

• Wireless routers feature Easy Start and Self-Healing to get people online and keep them surfing

• Innovative apps such as Print Genie, Music Mover™, and Daily DJ™ let them easily do the activities they want to do

• Simultaneous Dual-Band N Play and Play Max Routers deliver the best speed and performance for streaming HD videos

Kuala Lumpur, June 22, 2010 – With the explosion of online multimedia content, people are looking for new and richer experiences with their photos, music, and videos. Belkin’s new wireless routers are set to enable them to do so. Featuring fun and powerful applications, the Basic, Surf, Share and Play Max Wireless Routers enable them to play music, games, and HD videos as well as share photos and print wirelessly from anywhere in their home.

In a recent IDC survey, 72% of respondents own a digital still camera and use it often, so we can expect that more people will want to share their photos and videos in more places. According to Forrester, the digital music market in the US has grown to more than $3 billion. The Wall Street Journal reported that almost 1 million homes in 2008 eliminated their cable TV to rely solely on the Internet for video entertainment. In recognizing these burgeoning needs, Belkin aims to create richer multimedia experiences to empower people to do the activities they want.

With apps designed to enhance their wireless experience, Belkin’s new line of routers are easy to set up and maintain. The Self-Healing app automatically detects and resolves network problems and runs routine maintenance scans to give the clearest wireless channel.

The Share and Play Max Routers offer the Print Genie app allows wireless printing from any computer on the home network, while Memory Safe™ automatically backs up photos and files to an external hard drive (sold separately)—so people can rest assured that precious memories are protected.

With advanced Dual-Band N technology, Belkin’s Play Max Routers provide the best speed and performance. Simultaneous networks eliminate interference and allow optimal performance for media-intensive activities, such as streaming HD movies, gaming online, and downloading large media files.

Apps on Play Max let people to do more with their music. Music Mover can play their entire music library on smart devices, like the Xbox^® or PS3™, making their music just a touch away. The Daily DJ app serves up daily personalized playlists to match moods. By analyzing the musical DNA of a collection, Daily DJ creates playlists around three mood mixes: High-Energy, Steady Groove, and Kick Back. Playlists can also be created by choosing a song and letting Daily DJ offer a new take on their favorite music.

AVAILABILITY

Products will be available in all major IT stores starting mid July 2010.

QUOTES

Kurt Scherf, Vice President and Principal Analyst at Parks Associates:

“Belkin’s approach to studying user experiences and how people are interacting with their digital content is evident in how they’ve designed their new wireless routers. Features such as Easy Setup and its Music Mover app help people do the activities they want to do, and Belkin is communicating these benefits in a simple way such that people can understand.”

Jim Wagner, General Manager at Belkin:

“The explosion of digital content is heralding new opportunities, and this in itself is exciting. Using our consumer insight research, we learned that people want to do more with their photos, music, and videos throughout their home and across their network. Further, we found that while people had high aspirations for their network and media, unfortunately they were not buying routers capable of giving them the best of those experiences.

“With that in mind, we created a line of wireless routers based around the activities people want to do most. We made our Surf, Share, and Play Routers powerful enough to give great networking experiences, and we added easy-to-use apps to enable these activities. Now, even the most novice of consumer can create great experiences in their home and across their network.”

APPLICATIONS

	Self Healing: Automatically detects and resolves network problems and runs routine maintenance scans to give the clearest wireless channel. Available on Basic, Surf, Share, and Play Max.
	Memory Safe: Automatically backs up precious photos and important files to an external hard drive. Available on Share and Play Max.
	Print Genie: Print wirelessly from any computer on the network from anywhere in the home. Available on Share and Play Max.
	Music Mover: Play MP3s from a music library on the home stereo wirelessly. Connect an external hard drive on which to store music to the router—and move music from a computer to the stereo through devices like Xbox 360® and PlayStation® 3. Available on Play Max.
	Music Labeler: Automatically identifies and labels tracks with the correct title, artist, and genre. Available on Play Max.
	Daily DJ: Get daily personalized playlists from a music library based on your mood. Available on Play Max.
	Torrent Genie: Downloads large media files like movies, music, and games, even when the computer isn’t on. Available on Play Max.
	Bit Boost™: Prioritizes traffic on the network for video, gaming, and VoIP, allowing easy selection of the most important data streams for seamless network traffic. Available on Play Max.

*“The Global Landscape Of Online Music Stores And Services,” Forrester Research, Inc., April, 2009.

**The standard transmission rates—300Mbps, 54Mbps, and 11Mbps—are the physical link rates. Actual data throughput will be lower.

To learn more about Belkin International, Inc., visit http://www.belkin.com/pressroom/about/?sid=36