Logitech Play Link Wireless Extension

Logitech has eliminated a major nuisance for online gamers: connecting a gaming system to an inconveniently located broadband Internet connection.

The new Logitech Play Link wireless extension offers one-step wireless. Consumers just plug it in and play online games on their PlayStation2, Xbox and PC game networks, even if their Internetconnection is on the other side of the house.

With the Logitech Play Link wireless extension, there is no need for expensive, complicated wireless networks, no software to configure, and no drilling through walls or running cables under carpets. Instead, the Play Link wireless extension consists of two small wireless transceiver boxes. One plugs into the Ethernet port of an Internet router or modem and the other plugs into a game console, PC or other device — instantly providing a wireless broadband connection.

In a recent study, Framingham, Mass-based research firm IDC reported that 68.3 percent of console game owners are aware of online gaming services, up from 46.3 percent in 2003. However, only 15.4 percent of PlayStation 2 and 13.7 percent of Xbox owners have played online games.

“We hear it all the time,” said Jef Holove, director of product marketing for Logitech’s Interactive Entertainment Business Unit. “Gamers have their PlayStation 2 or Xbox in their living room and their broadband connection in a home office. The Logitech Play Link wireless extension provides an easy, affordable way for those who want to game online but haven’t because of the complexity of home networking. The setup is fast and truly plug-and-play — you plug it in, and it just works.”

Designed as an affordable and simple enabler of online gaming, the Logitech Play Link wireless extension features 900 MHz RF technology, which achieves a range of up to 100 feet, and delivers encrypted communication so that the one-to-one connection is secure. The product is able to work without software or drivers because the two devices are paired during manufacturing so that they only work with each other. The Play Link transceivers transmit data, with no latency, at a rate of up to 1.5 Mbps. The product is specifically designed to ensure a persistent connection, so gamers don’t get dropped from their game.

The Logitech Play Link wireless extension can provide one-step wireless access for any Ethernet-enabled device, such as a laptop, a digital video recorder, a satellite receiver, or a network printer. With no software or drivers required, it’s easy to move a Logitech Play Link transceiver from device to device, allowing people to surf the Internet on a laptop one minute and then easily switch over to an online game the next.

The Logitech Play Link wireless extension will be available on store shelves in the U.S. and Canada, and online at www.logitech.com, later this month for a suggested retail price of $99.99.