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Comcast is investing in smart internet with its acquisition of PowerCloud

Comcast may have its hands full with its pending Time Warner Cable merger, but the broadcasting giant managed to squeeze in a relatively cheap acquisition with a deal to buy the Wi-Fi router maker PowerCloud Systems. Exact terms of the deal were not disclosed. According to reports, Comcast will likely leverage PowerCloud’s portfolio to deal with the increasing number of connected devices in consumer households, and basically as a stepping stone to reach the elusive Internet of Things. Tyson Marian, part of the strategic development team at Comcast, told VentureBeat that Comcast will use technology from PowerCloud’s Skydog router in conjunction with a combined router/modem Comcast has developed to better track what devices are coming in and out of a home network, “So you can connect new devices and manage your devices on a home network with heavy heavy security.”

Comcast has acquired PowerCloud Systems, according to Tyson Marian, who works in Strategic Development at Comcast. The company is not disclosing any financial information related to the deal. PowerCloud Systems builds web monitoring tools and analytics software, including Wi-Fi management system Skydog. Last week, Skydog noted on its website that it had been acquired but didn’t provide further details. Earlier this morning Tech Crunch surmised that Comcast bought the company in a bid to offer new services to its growing audience. Now, Marian is confirming the acquisition. He says that we can expect to see PowerCloud’s technologies folded into Comcast products starting in 2015. Why buy Skydog you ask? “It’s all around smart Internet,” he says. Comcast likely recognizes it’s the gatekeeper to the Internet for a lot of people, especially considering it’s in the process of buying Time Warner. So what better way to capitalize on the increasing number of Wi-Fi connected devices in consumer homes than with a new management tool that will allow users (and Comcast) to see what in-home devices are connected through one app? Marian says Comcast wants to make it easier for you to connect all your devices and manage devices that want to connect to your home network. To this end, the company has developed a combined router/modem, and with Skydog’s technology the company will more easily be able to track what devices are coming in and out of your network, “So you can connect new devices and manage your devices on a home network with heavy heavy security,” says Marian.

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Written by Carl Durrek

Carl is a gaming fanatic, forever stuck on Reddit and all-around lover of food.

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