The design-conscious Eero device is a router, access point and signal booster all rolled into one sleek package.
The product has received backing from First Round Capital and Menlo Ventures, as well as other investors. CEO Nick Weaver and his 15-man team have been working on the project for a year from their base in San Francisco.
Eero: An integrated home WiFi solution
Weaver unveiled the product to Robert Hackett of Fortune.com, in the lead up to the release of the Eero. He predicts that the average home will require 3 Eero devices in order to provide blanket WiFi coverage, but they do not require add-ons like devices sold by rivals Linksys and Belkin do. Eero is easy to maintain too, with the devices automatically running diagnostics, downloading security patches and even sending weekly network activity reports.
After an easy set-up, simply plugging your first Eero into the existing cable or DSL modem and wall socket, the network can be managed using the accompanying mobile app. The Eero attempts to address some of the issues that have long affected home WiFi, including signal dead zones, managing passwords and bandwidth sharing.
Problem solving
Eero devices used in conjunction with one another will provide strong signal all over your house. The use of multiple Eero devices in one home allows for the distribution of network traffic, meaning that no device should become overloaded. This is a boon in an age where consumers are increasingly using video streaming services such as Netflix instead of watching television.
Passwords can be shared through the mobile app, or simply texted to a guest, ending the reliance on hastily scrawled, indecipherable notes from your network technician. Owners of the Eero system can also set time limits on access for their guests, which may be useful for controlling internet privileges for children.
After a year operating in “stealth mode,” researching and perfecting the product, Weaver announced plans to start shipping the Eero early this summer. The individual devices will sell for $125, and a 3-pack will set you back $300. The company employed Fred Bould, designer of the GoPro Hero 3, to create a device which is easy on the eye, but is still unlikely to be used as a decorative feature.
