Broadcom, HP and Linksys Make Wi-Fi(R) Installation as Easy as Pushing a Button

Broadcom Corporation, HP and Linksys(R), a division of Cisco Systems, Inc. today announced a new technology that is expected to revolutionize Wi-Fi(R) installation and stimulate the development and deployment of new classes of wireless products for home networks.

The three companies have collaborated to promote SecureEasySetup(TM), which enables consumers to effortlessly setup their wireless networks and activate Wi-Fi Protected Access(TM) (WPA(TM)) security by simply pushing a button. Linksys and HP plan to offer the first Wi-Fi products with the new push-button solution that is powered by Broadcom(R) SecureEasySetup software and 54g(TM) chipsets.

SecureEasySetup eliminates the current hurdles to broad adoption of home Wi-Fi products by delivering true ease of use and automated security. The software enables wireless home networks based on best-of-breed devices from multiple vendors, providing new and better consumer experiences for sharing content throughout the home.

Traditional wireless LAN installation can be a complicated and time-consuming task, requiring the user to possess the technical know-how to manually enter several settings (such as network name, and encryption key or WPA pass phrase) on each Wi-Fi device. SecureEasySetup dramatically simplifies installation by automating the processes of configuring new wireless networks and adding devices to existing networks. After a user pushes the SecureEasySetup button on their Linksys router and wireless device -- or uses access point setup software on their notebook computer -- SecureEasySetup establishes a private connection between the devices and automatically configures the network's Service Set Identifier (SSID) while enabling WPA security.

"Our latest wireless silicon solutions address the cost, size and power consumption requirements to enable next-generation Wi-Fi products," said Jeff Thermond, Vice President and General Manager of Broadcom's Home and Wireless Business Unit. "The new SecureEasySetup software addresses the most basic need of all -- improving the way that all of these wireless devices work together." Push-button configuration makes Wi-Fi practical for a variety of new platforms and devices.

Manual Wi-Fi installation requires the use of a keyboard and/or display, making it difficult to configure non-PC devices. The SecureEasySetup push-button eliminates the need for a user interface, enabling manufacturers to embed high-performance Wi-Fi capabilities into even more products, including consumer electronics without screens or keypads (such as printers and digital cameras) and non-Windows(R) devices (such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones and digital video equipment).

"Enabling secure, wireless networking is a unifying element across HP's product portfolio and the foundation of our vision of the digitally-connected home," said Gregg Patterson, Vice President of Solutions and Technology, for the Consumer Imaging & Printing organization at HP. "By working with Broadcom and Linksys to simplify wireless networking setup, we're not only improving Wi-Fi customer satisfaction, but expanding the universe of products with Wi-Fi capabilities beyond PCs to include printers and consumer electronics devices."

The Easiest Way to Protect Wi-Fi Networks with WPA SecureEasySetup not only addresses the challenges of network set-up, but also makes it easier than ever to protect a Wi-Fi network from unauthorized use. In an independent study comparing the configuration of a secure Wi-Fi network using SecureEasySetup versus traditional means, more than 98 percent of the test subjects were able to quickly set up and establish a secure Wi-Fi connection using SecureEasySetup. By contrast, the complexities of traditional configuration have caused as many as 75 percent of current home users to ignore the security features built into their Wi-Fi products*.

The SecureEasySetup push-button eliminates the manual pass phrase entry that was previously required to enable WPA security on each wireless device. Instead, the software automatically establishes the system's WPA pass phrases (also known as keys) while it configures a new network and installs those keys on each new device that is authorized to join the network.

"We want the process of setting up and adding devices to a wireless network to be as simple as possible. A deployment of push-button wireless setup and security can help to simplify and enhance the user experience when setting up and building onto a home network" said Malachy Moynihan, Vice President of Engineering and Product Marketing for Linksys. "By anticipating customers' needs and making our Wi-Fi products easier to use, we will enable even more consumers to experience the convenience and freedom of wireless networking."

WPA is a standards-based security feature built into all Wi-Fi CERTIFIED(TM) products. Driven by the Wi-Fi Alliance, WPA provides robust encryption and authentication techniques for Wi-Fi networks. WPA is the strongest security feature available on Wi-Fi Certified devices for home wireless LANs, encrypting data and limiting network access to devices with matching passwords.