Wayne N. Kawamoto
Managing Editor, www.smallbusinesscomputing.com
Linksys, a manufacturer of broadband, wireless and networking hardware for small and medium-size businesses, announced the availability of its Linksys EtherFast Cable Modem (BEFCMU10) for homes and businesses.
According to the company, the CL CableLabs certified DOCSIS 1.0 and upgradeable to 1.1 cable modem is designed to be an affordable, plug-and-play connectivity device that enables high-speed Internet access for desktops and notebook computers with the subscription of a cable service provider plan.
Linksys says that its EtherFast Cable Modem has been approved by all major cable service providers or Multiple Service Operators (MSOs) including: Adelphia, AT&T Broadband, Cable ONE, Cablevision, Charter, Comcast, Cox, Mediacom and Time Warner.
Designed for ease of use, the EtherFast Cable Modem offers both a USB port and an RJ-45 Ethernet port which may make set up simple no matter what type of network adapter interface a user has. The USB port is for connecting directly to a USB-ready desktop or notebook PC that is not equipped with an Ethernet adapter and is ideal for single PC environments.
The cable modem is also equipped with an RJ-45 Ethernet port for older desktops and notebooks that do not have USB ports or for connecting multiple PCs to the modem through a hub or switch. Users can also use the Ethernet port to connect to any Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL router to share a single cable high-speed Internet access amongst all family members in the home or office workers in a business environment.
Since the EtherFast Cable Modem can be monitored through an SNMP remote monitoring tool, service providers may be able to upgrade their customers’ Linksys cable modems remotely over the Internet as well as perform software upgrades offsite to ensure that the modem evolves with future broadband technology.
If users currently lease a cable modem supplied by a cable provider, users may be able to swap out the modem with a Linksys modem. Or users about to sign up for cable Internet access through a service provider, can simply purchase a Linksys modem rather than use the cable modem supplied by the cable service provider that is sometimes offered for a monthly fee.
The new cable modem stacks on top of other Linksys products and looks similar to the company’s EtherFast cable/DSL routers, wireless access point and workgroup switches. The design addresses customers’ need for stacking networking hardware that saves room on the desktop.
Availability and Pricing
Available now, the modem has an estimated street price of $129.99.
