Logitech
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Logitech | |
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| Type | Public (NASDAQ ADRs: LOGI) |
| Founded | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Romanel-sur-Morges, Switzerland |
| Key people | Guerrino De Luca, President and CEO |
| Industry | Peripherals |
| Products | Peripherals |
| Revenue | ▲1.482 billion euros (2005) |
| Employees | 8,000 |
| Website | www.logitech.com |
Logitech International S.A. (SWX: LOGN, NASDAQ: LOGI), headquartered in Romanel-sur-Morges, Switzerland, is the holding company for Logitech Group, a major peripheral-device maker. Logitech makes peripheral devices for PCs, including keyboards, mice, game controllers and webcams. Logitech also makes home and PC speakers, headphones, wireless audio devices, as well as audio devices for MP3 players and mobile phones.
In addition to its Swiss headquarters, the company has offices in Fremont, California, as well as throughout Europe, Asia and the rest of Americas. Logitech's sales and marketing activities are organized into six geographic regions: Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Australia, and Asia Pacific.
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[edit] Brand names
In the Japanese market, Logitech uses the brand name Logicool since a Logitec (ロジテック?) that focuses on computer peripheral devices has existed in that country since 1982, and its parent company has used the Logitech brand name since 1974.
In the UK, Logitech trades under 'Logi (UK) Ltd'; a 'Logitech' based in Glasgow, Scotland manufactures precision cutting, lapping and polishing equipment for the materials processing industry. In Canada, Logitech International uses its own name without conflict with Logitech Electronics, an InterTAN Canada Ltd. supplier of consumer electronics since 1988.
Since the 1990s, Logitech has made mice and keyboards directly for Apple Computer, HP, Dell Computer and other companies.
[edit] History
Logitech International S.A. was co-founded in Apples, Vaud, Switzerland, in 1981 by two Stanford Masters alumni, Daniel Borel and Pierluigi Zappacosta, and Giacomo Marini, formerly a manager at Olivetti.
The mass-marketed computer mouse was the product that made Logitech well-known. The range of products offered improvements over a product originally developed at LAMI (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) by professor Jean-Daniel Nicoud and engineer André Guignard, who was involved in the design changes of the computer mouse originally invented by Douglas Engelbart.
For a time during its formative years, Logitech's Silicon Valley offices occupied space at 165 University Avenue, Palo Alto, California, home to a number of noted technology startups.
From there, Logitech expanded its product line (see below) to encompass many mass market computer peripherals and beyond (such as the "Harmony" range of programmable universal remote controls).
[edit] Production
The first Logitech mice were made in Le Lieu, in the Swiss Canton of Jura by Dubois Depraz SA.
Production facilities were then established in the US, Taiwan, Ireland and moved subsequently to Suzhou, China. As of 2005, the manufacturing operations in China produce approximately half of Logitech's products. The remaining production is outsourced to contract manufacturers and original design manufacturers in Asia.
[edit] Products
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It has been suggested that Logitech Attack 3 be merged into this article or section. (Discuss) |
- Keyboards, mice, and trackballs (wired and wireless models).
- Webcams.
- Speakers, including 2.0 and 2.1 stereophonic sound as well as 5.1 surround sound systems. iPod and PSP speaker docks are also available.
- PC & Mac, Xbox, Xbox 360, PS2, PS3 and PSP gaming hardware, including game controllers, joysticks, keyboards and racing wheels.
- Headphones, headsets and desktop microphones.
- iPod, MP3 player and mobile phone accessories.
- Logitech Harmony Remote.
- Wireless music systems.
- io2 Digital Writing System.
- 3Dconnexion controllers.
[edit] Competitors
Logitech’s main competitors in the computer peripheral market are Microsoft's line of input devices, as well as other brands such as Razer USA Ltd, the Taiwanese Genius, the Canadian Ideazon, the Altec Lansing Audio Company and Creative from Singapore.
[edit] Sponsorships
Logitech is the main club sponsor of Co Carlow FC for the 2007/2008 season.
[edit] See also
- 3Dconnexion (Subsidiary of Logitech)
[edit] External links
[edit] Articles
- Mouse maker reveals how niche players succeed, Swissinfo, 20.4.2006
- How does logitech's top of the range gaming mouse compare?
