Comcast Buys PowerCloud Systems
Tyson Marian, who works in strategic development at Comcast, told
VentureBeat, that the operator expects to start integrating PowerCloud's device management technologies into its products, including router/modem combos, sometime next year. That mix will allow users to securely track devices coming off and on of the home network, Marian told the publication.
The acquisition of PowerCloud comes into as Comcast continues to deploy WiFi technologies aggressively. In June, Comcast said its Xfinity WiFi footprint had expanded to about 3 million hotspots nationwide, getting it closer toward a goal of expanding that footprint to 8 million hotspots by the end of 2014. That number is comprised of hotspots deployed outdoor and commercial venues, as well as inside customer-supplied routers that emit a separate "XfinityWiFi" SSID that can be accessed by authenticated Comcast high-speed Internet subscribers.
Elsewhere on that wireless front, Comcast Business is developing an "amenity" WiFi product for small business owners that enable them to provide access to a company-branded SSID alongside tailored usage rules, security mechanisms, and other specific terms of service.
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