Is Your Home Wireless Network Ready for Guests This Summer?

SAN FRANCISCO, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- As the summer travel season kicks into high gear, more families going on vacation plan to use a wireless Internet connection on a computer or Wi-Fi-enabled device, such as a smart phone or video game player. Opinion Research conducted a consumer survey for Cisco's Consumer Products group and found results that will be significant to anyone hosting family and friends this summer:

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• 59 percent of adults plan to use a computer or Wi-Fi device while visiting family and friends this summer, and 37 percent said they will tap into their host's wireless network to access the Internet.
• 73 percent of young adults ages 18-34 say they plan to use a computer or Wi-Fi device while traveling, and nearly one-half (47 percent) plan to access the Internet through their host's home network.  

"People traveling to their friends' and family's homes for vacation often want to access the Internet, but historically that has not been easy for either the guests or their hosts," said Scott Kabat, director of marketing for Cisco Consumer Products.  "Our Cisco Valet home wireless solution makes it simple for hosts to create a separate guest network so everyone can be connected and protected."

A Valet wireless router makes it easy for everyday consumers to set up, use and manage their home wireless. For guests, a home equipped with Valet means an end to the frustration of trying to connect to someone else's wireless network. For hosts, the simple controls of Valet let them set up a separate wireless connection for their visitors without the hassles of lengthy passwords or security protocols. The guests are free to use their laptops or mobile devices around the house while the host's home network remains highly secure and private.

The summer travel survey was conducted by Opinion Research in June 2010, with 1,000 adult respondents, 48 percent male and 52 percent female, representing all regions of the U.S.  Overall, the results showed:

• 88 percent of those surveyed plan to visit friends or family this summer.
• 71 percent of respondents said they plan to bring a laptop or Wi-Fi device when traveling.

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate, this year celebrates 25 years of technology innovation, operational excellence and corporate social responsibility. Cisco's vision for the consumer is to enable people to live a connected life that is more personal, more social, and more visual. Further information about Valet can be found at www.thevalet.com. Further information about Cisco and its full line of consumer products including Linksys and Flip Video can be found at www.linksys.com, www.theflip.com, and www.cisco.com/consumer.

Cisco, the Cisco logo, Linksys, Valet, Cisco Systems and Flip Video are registered trademarks or trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.

SOURCE Cisco Consumer