Control4 buys into networking as it shells out approximately $32.7 million in cash for HomeAV and ProAV network switch and routing maker Pakedge Device & Software.
But why would Control4 buy Pakedge? First off, Pakedge provides an important networking foundation, not to mention a product portfolion including the Connect+-- a next generation networking platform integrating both wired and wireless products through the cloud using properietary algorithms to detect, diagnose, self-repair and resolve network problems.
The company also offers networking expertise, sofware capability and integration with a growing list of 3rd party products, as well as a broad channel of 1700 independent dealers. The dealer number is important, since it adds 1100 new entries to the Control4 dealer network.
“The connected consumer, connected home, and connected business opportunity is expanding along with the complexities of supporting thousands of different devices and services in homes and business around the world,” Control4 says. “By embracing networking as an expanded core-competency, integrating it tightly with our entertainment and automation capabilities, and delivering a single cloud-based reporting and management solution, Control4 will be able to harness the expanding opportunity, bring more simplicity to the complicated, and increase satisfaction for our end customers.”
