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Belkin

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This article is about the company. For the surname, see Belkin (surname). For the cycling team, see Belkin Pro Cycling Team.
Not to be confused with Belk or Belden (electronics company).
Belkin International, Inc.
Belkin[a]
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryConsumer electronics
FoundedApril 18, 1983; 41 years ago (1983-04-18)
FounderChet Pipkin
HeadquartersEl Segundo, California, U.S.
Key people
Number of employees
1000+
ParentFoxconn Interconnect Technology
Websitewww.belkin.com

Belkin International, Inc., is an American consumer electronics company headquartered in El Segundo, California. It produces mobile and computer connectivity devices and peripherals for consumer and commercial use. These include wireless chargers, power banks, charging cables, data cables, audio and video adapters, headphones, earbuds, screen protectors and cases, surge protectors, docking stations and data hubs, secure KVM switches and network cables.[1][2]

History

[edit]

While attending UCLA, Chet Pipkin, who was spending his time in local computer shops, saw the growing need for cables that would connect personal computers to new printers being released for home use.[3] In the early 1980s, Chet Pipkin founded Belkin in his parents' home in Hawthorne, California, to manufacture computer cables for the new personal computer and tech accessory market.[4] Pipkin began to sell computer-to-printer cables to local computer shops. As Pipkin's cable connector sales grew in Southern California, he recruited assembly help from his machinist father, brother, and a handful of friends. In 1982, Pipkin left his university studies to focus on expanding the business.[5]

On January 1, 1983, Pipkin moved into a professional workplace and hired his first full-time employees. Belkin performed its cable manufacturing in the United States, which gave the company a fast turnaround for customers. In 1985, in addition to U.S. manufacturing, Belkin began contracting Asian factories to increase production for a global market.[3] In the 1990s, Belkin added surge protectors and USB storage devices to its product line.[6] In the early 2000s, Belkin expanded its product line to accommodate smartphone and tablet users with hardware accessories including chargers and connector cables.[7]

In 2012, Belkin launched the WeMo brand to produce smart home products. In March 2013, Belkin acquired Cisco Systems' Home Networking Business Unit, including the Linksys brand and product line.[8][9] In 2016, Belkin, in a joint venture with water solutions company Uponor, formed Phyn, a home water management tech brand.[10] In September 2018, Belkin was purchased by Foxconn Interconnect Technology, a Taiwanese multinational electronics firm and the largest provider of electronics manufacturing services, for $886 million.[1][11] Belkin now operates as an independent subsidiary, and the Linksys business is a separate subsidiary of Foxconn Interconnect Technology and Fortinet.

In January 2021, Pipkin stepped down from his role as CEO of Belkin to become the Executive Chairman of the Board. Senior Vice President and General Manager Steve Malony was announced as the new CEO.[12]

Corporate affairs

[edit]

Belkin is headquartered in El Segundo, California. Previously, the head offices were in the neighboring southern California cities of Playa Vista, Hawthorne, and Compton.[3] The company has offices in Australia, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States.[13]

From its founding in 1983 until 2012, the Belkin logo was simply the name Belkin.[14] In 2009, Belkin pledged to reduce 25 percent of the company's worldwide electricity consumption by 2017, and by 2018, Belkin had 37 percent reduction worldwide. Belkin made efficiency upgrades, including solar panels, EV charging stations in company parking lots, and motion sensor lighting in offices and distribution centers.[15] In 2024, Belkin announced an aim to be 100 percent carbon neutral across its business by 2030.[16]

Brands

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In 2013, Belkin purchased Linksys, a Cisco network hardware company that specializes in wireless connectivity. As of 2021, the Linksys business is now a subsidiary of Foxconn Interconnect Technology and Fortinet.[8][9][6]

In 2016, Phyn, a home water management tech brand, was created by Belkin in a joint venture with water solutions company Uponor. In 2021, Uponor sold its stake in the venture to Belkin.[17][18]

In February 2024, Belkin introduced Future Ventures, a product category focused on content creation, spatial computing, artificial intelligence, and robotics.[19]

Donations & Outreach

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Between May 2013 and the end of the 2014 season, Belkin sponsored a Dutch professional cycling team, Belkin Pro Cycling Team. Belkin stepped in after the team formerly known as Rabobank lost their headline sponsor.[20]

Belkin is involved in the local Compton community through the ASAP (Advanced Surveillance and Protection Plan) program with the LASD (LA County Sheriff's Department) and the Everybody Wins reading program. Belkin supports Susan G. Komen for the Cure to fight breast cancer through its pink ribbon iPod cases that have helped raise $350,000 for the organization.[21] In 2007, Belkin made a holiday donation to the One Laptop per Child (OLPC) initiative.

Belkin is a founding partner and an industry partner with Da Vinci Schools, a network of charter schools with the goal of "hands-on learning," to prepare students for college and careers. In 2015, Belkin began the Belkin Internship program for the Da Vinci Extension program in which Da Vinci students gain career experiences in their community.[22]

Products

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In its inception, Belkin focused on cables and connectors for device pairings that were not easily available in the 1980s. It released the Hamlet cable, which connected the Apple IIc computer to non-Apple printers, in 1983.[6] In 2008, Belkin pivoted toward smartphone usage and designed new products for the smartphone accessory market.[7]

Belkin markets a range of cables for electronic devices, including charging cables, data cables, audio/video cables, cable adapters, and network cables.

Belkin produced its first stereo cables and speaker wiring in 2002. It markets audio products that are compatible with new technology and devices, including digital audio adapters, speakers and headphones.[23] At CES 2019, Belkin announced the company's first headphones line, RockStar, for iPhone and Android devices. The first of the line provided headphones that are attachable to an iPhone Lightning port.[24] In 2020, Belkin released the Soundform True Wireless Earbuds and its first speaker, the Soundform Elite Hi-Fi Smart Speaker. The Soundform Elite was created in partnership with Devialet.[25] The speaker was named Best Smart Speaker on Rolling Stone's Top Product Essentials of 2020.[26] In 2023, Belkin announced the SoundForm Inspire headphones and the SoundForm Adapt headphones. With the SoundForm Inspire, Belkin sourced feedback from children to engineer a design specifically suited to kids. Both headsets include wireless Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity.[27]

Belkin also sells wall chargers, car chargers, charging stations, power banks, surge protectors, power strips, and wireless chargers for smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, laptops, computers, and other electronic devices. In 2016, Belkin released an iPhone-compatible adapter for simultaneous iPhone charging and headphone use.[28]

Belkin produced the world’s first third-party MagSafe accessory.[29] In 2023, Belkin launched the BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charging Pad with Qi2 and the BoostCharge Convertible Qi2 Wireless pad to stand. Smart circuitry detects the connected device for charging, while universal charging protocols such as USB-C, MagSafe, and Qi2 offer widespread compatibility. With Qi2, supported iPhones will be able to charge at up to 15W without Apple's specific MagSafe charging equipment.[30]

Belkin produces secure KVM switches government-regulated certifications, designed to protect government and private enterprise data.[31]

Belkin also produces device protection products under the Screenforce name. In 2023, the UltraGlass 2 was made available for sale.[32]

Future Venture launched its first products in 2024, the Auto-Tracking Stand Pro, and the Battery Holder for Apple Vision Pro.[33]

Notes

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  1. ^ Stylized in lowercase in its logo.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Woodhouse, Alice. "Foxconn unit to buy Belkin International for $866m". Financial Times. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  2. ^ Jacob Kastrenakes (27 March 2018). "Foxconn buys Belkin, Linksys, and Wemo".
  3. ^ a b c "Belkin International: Chet Pipkin". NPR. Archived from the original on 2023-04-19.
  4. ^ Daily Breeze
  5. ^ "Fastrack". Los Angeles Business Journal. 1997-03-17. Archived from the original on 2019-06-03. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  6. ^ a b c Javier Panzar (25 January 2015). "How I Made It: For wealthy tech entrepreneur, a timely connection". Los Angeles Times.
  7. ^ a b Financial Times
  8. ^ a b "Linksys brand name survives as Belkin takes over from Cisco". PCWorld. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  9. ^ a b "Belkin buys Linksys home router business from Cisco, giving it 30 percent of the market". The Verge. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
  10. ^ "Wealthiest Angelenos: 29. CHET PIPKIN". www.labusinessjournal.com. LOS ANGELES BUSINESS JOURNAL. August 28, 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2018. Wealthiest Angelenos: 29. CHET PIPKIN
  11. ^ Coldewey, Devin (27 March 2018). "Foxconn buys peripheral maker Belkin for $866M". TechCrunch. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
  12. ^ L.A. Biz
  13. ^ "Barracuda (NYSE: CUDA) - email addresses & email format • Tomba". Tomba. Retrieved 2024-03-24.
  14. ^ Design Week
  15. ^ Business Intelligence Group
  16. ^ "Belkin Aims At 100 Percent Carbon Neutrality By 2030". SoCal Tech. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  17. ^ Coco Huang (11 October 2020). "Water Tech Companies Are Springing Up in LA".
  18. ^ "Uponor sells its share in the joint venture Phyn". Global News Wire. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  19. ^ "Belkin Introduces Future Ventures Division for Further Product Innovation and New Category Creation". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Blanco Pro Cycling team to be sponsored by Belkin". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2023-04-19.
  21. ^ "Belkin Accessorizes for a Good Cause".
  22. ^ Da Vinci Schools
  23. ^ 9to5 Mac
  24. ^ "Belkin readies new USB-C and Lightning headphones at CES 2019". CNET. Archived from the original on 2021-05-16.
  25. ^ Yahoo!
  26. ^ "The Rolling Stone Essentials 2020". Rolling Stone. 2020-10-20. Archived from the original on 2023-04-19.
  27. ^ "New sub-$100 Belkin SoundForm range offer big wireless features". Gadget Guy. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  28. ^ PR Newswire
  29. ^ "Third-party MagSafe accessories are about to look a lot nicer". Apple Insider. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  30. ^ "Belkin Debuts Qi2 Wireless Chargers, Thunderbolt 4 Hub and More". Mac Rumors. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  31. ^ "How can secure KVM technology help eliminate security risks?". Helpnet. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  32. ^ "Protect iPhone 15's screen with tough new UltraGlass 2". Cult of Mac. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
  33. ^ "Belkin's New Future Ventures: Innovating Tomorrow!". Trendy Gadget. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  • Media related to Belkin at Wikimedia Commons
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