Linksys to buy consumer electronics start-up

And why not? While I am not really a fan of some of their Linksys products, I think that all and all Cisco does OK. So with this in mind, I think that they might have a fair shot in the world of consumer electronics.

On Friday, Cisco announced that its Linksys division will acquire privately held Kiss Technology of Hoersholm, Denmark, for $61 million in cash. This is the second acquisition Cisco has made for Linksys since it purchased the division in 2003. Cisco bought Sipura Technology, a maker of Net phone products, in April.

Cisco has built a portfolio of products around the Linksys brand, which includes voice over IP and wireless and networking equipment for home and small-office users. But this is the first purchase of a true consumer electronics company.

Kiss makes DVD players and recorders that can be connected to the Internet to also provide video on demand. Kiss has arrangements with content providers in Europe, including TV stations and video-on-demand service provider Movielink. [Read the rest]