Amazon just added another company to its growing smart home portfolio.
The e-commerce giant is acquiring Eero, maker of the popular routers and mesh WiFi system of the same name.
Eero's app-enabled routers are designed to be easier to set up than traditional routers. The company also sells range-extending WiFi beacons to help eliminate patchy coverage. Together, its routers and beacons make a mesh network the company says is more reliable than what you get with a traditional router.
SEE ALSO: Amazon unveils its new delivery robotTerms of the deal were not disclosed. Eero, which was founded in 2015, has raised $90 million in funding, according to Crunchbase. The startup laid off 30 employees last year, TechCrunch reported.
For Amazon, Eero is the latest high-profile acquisition in the smart home space. The e-commerce giant previously acquired video doorbell maker Ring and security camera company Blink.
“We are incredibly impressed with the eero team and how quickly they invented a WiFi solution that makes connected devices just work,” Dave Limp, Amazon's SVP of devices and services, said in a statement. “We have a shared vision that the smart home experience can get even easier, and we’re committed to continue innovating on behalf of customers.”
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It sounds like Amazon plans to keep Eero as its own brand, much like it has with Ring and Blink. Eero's routers have already been compatible with Alexa for some time, but we could see deeper connections between the two companies in the future now that they're joining forces.
The move also raises questions about data privacy. Companies that control home WiFi networks have access to a significant amount of data about their customers' online activity. Having that data in the hands of an Amazon-controlled company could make some people uncomfortable, though it's unclear exactly what Amazon's plans for Eero are at the moment. Regardless, the acquisition will give Amazon even deeper hooks into users' homes.
