Logitech acquires Slim Devices – home of the Squeezebox and Transporter
Logitech has today announced that it has acquired Slim Devices, known for their home network systems, including the Squeezebox and the recently announced high-end network device, the Transporter (pictured). The cost? $20 million in cash, which must have needed a very large suitcase.
“With the acquisition of Slim Devices, Logitech is building on our foundation of innovation in digital music and home-entertainment control to address an emerging market,” said Guerrino De Luca, Logitech president and chief executive officer. “Our focus is on people who want to listen to and control their digital music, anywhere in the home. Slim Devices brings expertise in both network-based music delivery and high-quality audio, and a committed community of developers. Slim Devices complements Logitech’s existing technology and human-interface strengths, helping to ensure that we can deliver to music lovers the promise of the digital home.”
Slim Devices was founded in 2001 by Sean Adams, working with the worldwide open source community to develop the SlimServer software, which powers the Squeezebox and Transporter, as well as the SqueezeNetwork, which delivers content to the devices from the internet and without a PC. Both of the network players available from the company have been well received, so it’s unlikely that we’ll see any big changes in the short term. But it will be interesting to see what Logitech’s financial clout and Slim Devices’ know-how produce in the long term.
