TP-Link


TP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd., is a Chinese manufacturer of computer networking products based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.

History

TP-Link was founded in 1996 by two brothers, Zhao Jianjun and Zhao Jiaxing, to produce and market a network card they had developed. The company name was based on the concept of "twisted pair link" invented by Alexander Graham Bell, a kind of cabling that reduces electromagnetic interference, hence the "TP" in the company name.
TP-Link began its first international expansion in 2005. In 2007, the company moved into its new 100,000-square-meter headquarters and facilities at Shenzhen's Hi-Tech Industry Park. TP-LINK USA was established in 2008.
In September 2016, TP-Link unveiled a new logo and slogan, "Reliably Smart"; the new logo is meant to portray the company as being a "lifestyle"-oriented brand as it expands into smart home products.

Product ranges

TP-Link products include High Speed Cable Modems, wireless routers, mobile phones, ADSL, range extenders, routers, switches, IP cameras, powerline adapters, print servers, media converters, wireless adapters, power banks, USB Hub and SMART home technology devices. TP-Link also manufactured the OnHub router for Google. In 2016 the company launched the new brand Neffos for smart phones. TP-Link manufactures smart home devices under their Kasa Smart and Tapo product lines.


TP-Link sells through multiple sales channels globally, including traditional retailers, online retailers, wholesale distributors, direct market resellers, value-added resellers and broadband service providers. Its main competition includes companies such as Netgear, Buffalo, Belkin, Linksys, D-Link and Asus.

Brands

Tapo

On September 30, 2019, TP-Link launched Tapo with one of its initial offerings being the mini smart Wi-Fi Plug—Tapo P100. The smart plug works over a 2.4 GHz wireless connection integrates with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant. Other offerings from Tapo include a line of home security Wi-Fi cameras and an upcoming line of smart lighting appliances.

Manufacturing

TP-Link is one of the few major wireless networking companies to manufacture its products in-house as opposed to outsourcing to original design manufacturers. The company says this control over components and the supply chain is a key competitive differentiator.

Vulnerabilities

Computerworld reported in January 2015 that ZyNOS, a firmware used by some routers, is vulnerable to DNS hijacking by an unauthenticated remote attacker, specifically when remote management is enabled.