Logitech

Logitech International S.A.
Société Anonyme
Traded as SIX: LOGN
NASDAQ: LOGI
Industry Computer peripherals, tablet peripherals
Founded 2 October 1981 (1981-10-02)
Apples, Switzerland
Headquarters Lausanne, Switzerland
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Guerrino De Luca (Chairman), Bracken Darrell (CEO)
Products Computer peripherals, tablet peripherals
Revenue Increase $2.13 billion (2014)
Profit Increase $74 million (2014)[1][2]
Total assets Increase $1.5 billion (2013)[1]
Total equity Increase $0.7 billion (2013)[1]
Number of employees
 9,000 (31 March 2012)[2]
Website www.logitech.com
Former Logitech's Silicon Valley office in Newark, California
A Logitech G7 mouse
Wireless Trackman Mouse
USB speakers
Rumble Gamepad F510

Logitech International S.A. (commonly referred to as the Logitech or the Logi, stylized as logitech, previously LOGITECH) is a Swiss global provider of personal computer and tablet accessories, with EMEA headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland and American headquarters in Newark, California.

The company develops and markets products like peripheral devices for PCs, including keyboards, mice, trackballs, microphones, game controllers and webcams. Logitech also makes home and computer speakers, headphones, wireless audio devices, as well as audio devices for MP3 players and mobile phones. More recently, the company has begun making keyboards and covers for tablets.

In addition to its Swiss and American headquarters, the company has offices throughout Europe, Asia and the rest of the Americas. Logitech's sales and marketing activities are organized into three geographic regions: America; Europe; and the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

History

First Logitech logo, used from 1981 to 1985.
First Logitech logo, used from 1981 to 1985.
Second Logitech logo, used from 1985 to 1988.
Second Logitech logo, used from 1985 to 1988.
Fourth Logitech logo, used from 1996 to 2015.
Fourth Logitech logo, used from 1996 to 2015.
Logitech's symbol, used from 1996 to 2015.
Logitech's symbol, used from 1996 to 2015.
Fifth Logitech logo, used from 2012 to 2015.
Fifth Logitech logo, used from 2012 to 2015.
Sixth and Current Logitech logo, used since July 8 2015.
Sixth and Current Logitech logo, used since July 8 2015.

Logitech International S.A. was co-founded in Apples, Vaud, Switzerland, in 1981 by two Stanford alumni, Daniel Borel and Pierluigi Zappacosta, and a former Olivetti engineer, Giacomo Marini.[3]

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).

In 2007, Logitech licensed Hillcrest Labs' Freespace motion control technology to produce the MX Air Mouse, which allows a user to use natural gestures to control a PC.[4][5]

In December 2008, Logitech announced that it had manufactured one billion mice since 1985.[6]

In May 2010, Logitech, in partnership with Google, introduced the Internet-enabled television; named Google TV.[7]

In July 2011, Logitech acquired the mobile visual communications provider, Mirial.[8]

In November 2013, the company announced the launch of its new iPhone game controller, the PowerShell, which also doubles as a battery pack with a built-in 1500mAh battery.[9]

Logitech's profits were hurt by the proliferation of tablet devices.[10][11] In 2013 the company made a loss, but returned to profit in 2014.

On July 8, 2015, Logitech announced the biggest brand transformation in its history. The transformation included a new, simplified and modernized logo and the announcement of a greater emphasis on design going forward. Logitech also highlighted that they are looking to move beyond PC peripherals.[12][13][14]

In July 2015, Logitech announced a 2 percent first-quarter revenue drop to $470 million, due to a strong dollar and falling demand for the company's computer accessories. Logitech has been focusing on new lines like wireless music speakers, videoconferencing and video game controllers to offset a decline in personal computers and weak demand for mice and keyboards[15]

In September 2015, Logitech and Prezi announced a plan to work together on co-marketing and product development.[16]

In April 2016, Logitech agreed to pay $7.5 million penalty related to accusations that it and some former executives improperly inflated the company's results for its 2011 fiscal year to meet guidance and other accounting violations. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said the alleged accounting issues left investors without an accurate view of the Swiss-U.S. company's finances.[17]

On April 12, 2016, Logitech acquired Jaybird, makers of fitness-focused wireless earbuds and trackers for $50 million. [18]

On September 15, 2016, Logitech announced that they had purchased the Saitek brand and assets from Mad Catz for $13 million in cash.[19]

Production

The first Logitech mice were made in Le Lieu, in the Swiss Canton of Vaud by Dubois Depraz SA.

Production facilities were then established in the US, Taiwan, Hungary and Ireland before being 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.

Brand names

Product families

Product launches

2014

In January 2014, Logitech launched a new video conference camera, the Logitech ConferenceCam CC3000e. The system includes a 1080p HD video camera, enterprise-quality audio and the capability to easily connect to a laptop or thin client.[20]

In July 2014, Logitech announced the G402 Hyperion Fury Ultra-Fast Gaming Mouse. The mouse will be available in August for $60, can track over 500 inches per second and features Logitech's own Delta Zero sensor technology.[21]

In September 2014, Logitech released the Logitech K480, a new Bluetooth keyboard that can connect to three devices simultaneously and allows you to switch between them using a small dial.[22]

In October 2014, Logitech released the Logitech Wireless Mouse M320 which used the Logitech wireless USB dongle.[23]

In October 2014, Logitech debuted the Keys-to-Go rugged fabric keyboard for the Apple iPad.[24]

2015

In January 2015, Logitech released the ConferenceCam Connect, a portable product for video conferencing with a design for small and medium-sized rooms.[25]

In July 2015, Logitech introduced the X50 mobile wireless speaker. It allows to connect the phone via Bluetooth as well as auxiliary jack.[26]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Logitech – Logitech Announces 2nd Quarter and Full-Year Financial Results for FY 2013". marketwatch.com.
  2. 1 2 "Logitech investors FAQ". logitech.com.
  3. ↑ . "Logitech History" logitech.com
  4. ↑ Techspot 13 July 2007. Logitech's MX Air Mouse with freespace motion control
  5. ↑ By Michael Brown, Tom's Hardware. "Logitech Ships its One Billionth Mouse." 5 December 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  6. ↑ Albanesius, Chloe (2011). "Google Unveils Google TV With Sony, Logitech, Intel as Partners | News & Opinion | PCMag.com". pcmag.com. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  7. ↑ "Logitech Acquires Mirial – MarketWatch". marketwatch.com. 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  8. ↑ By Jordan Kahn, 9to5. "Logitech launches $99 ‘PowerShell’ iPhone game controller w/ built-in 1500 mAh battery." 20 November 2013. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  9. ↑ Remondini, Chiara (27 October 2011). "Logitech Second-Quarter Profit Drops on America, Europe Sales; Asia Gains". Bloomberg. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  10. ↑ Kunert, Paul (25 April 2013). "Guess who PC-slaying tablets are killing next? Keyboard biz Logitech". The Register. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  11. ↑ Monney, Jessica (8 July 2015). "Meet the New Logitech: A Company with Design at Its Core". Logitech Press Center. Logitech. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  12. ↑ "Say Hello to the new Logitech". Logitech Blog. Logitech. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  13. ↑ "To Rebrand for the Future, Logi Drops the Tech". WSJ Blog. Wall Street Journal. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  14. ↑ Ankush Sharma, Business Insider. “Logitech's first-quarter revenue drops 2 percent to $470 million.” 22 July 2015. 21 August 2015.
  15. ↑ Brian Faglioli, betanews. “Logitech and Prezi announce intriguing presentation-focused partnership.” 21 September 2015. 22 September 2015.
  16. ↑ Tess Stynes, The Wall Street Journal. “Logitech Agrees to Pay $7.5 Million Penalty Tied to Accounting Issues.” April 19, 2016. April 22, 2016.
  17. ↑ Coldewey, Devin. "Logitech snaps up wireless earbuds maker JayBird for $50M". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2016-06-24.
  18. ↑ "Logitech acquires Saitek Simulation product line from Mad Catz". Logitech. Retrieved 2016-09-16.
  19. ↑ VentureBeat. "Logitech launches camera that turns any place into a video collaboration room." 27 January 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  20. ↑ By Eddie Makuch, GameSpot. "." 31 July 2014. 5 August 2014.
  21. ↑ By John Biggs, TechCrunch. "Logitech Releases A Surprisingly Useful Bluetooth Keyboard That Connects To Three Devices." 3 September 2014. 9 September 2014.
  22. ↑ By Mark Hachman, PC World. "Logitech releases $30 M320 mouse, discriminates against lefties again." 3 October 2014. 7 October 2014.
  23. ↑ By Mark Hachman, PCWorld. "Logitech debuts Surface-like keyboard for the iPad." 28 October 2014. 29 October 2014.
  24. ↑ Charles McLellan, ZDNet. "Logitech unveils ConferenceCam Connect for flexible video conferencing." 26 January 2015. 10 February 2015.
  25. ↑ "Logitech introduces the X50 a mobile wireless speaker". DNA India. 22 July 2015.
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