TP-Link
TP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd. (simplified Chinese: 普联技术; traditional Chinese: 普聯技術; pinyin: pǔ lián jìshù; lit. 'Pulian Technology'), is a global manufacturer of computer networking products based in Shenzhen, China.
![]() Logo used since September 2016 | |
![]() TP-Link Global Headquarters | |
Native name | 普联技术有限公司 |
---|---|
Type | Multinational corporation |
Industry | Networking equipment |
Founded | 1996 |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Jeffrey Chao (Chairman) |
Products | Ethernet hubs, Routers, DSL/Cable Gateways, Switches, Wireless Access Points, Storage and security IP cameras |
Brands | |
Number of employees | 24,000 |
Website | www.tp-link.com |
History
![](../I/TP-LINK_logo.svg.png.webp)
TP-Link was founded in 1996 by two brothers, Zhao Jianjun (赵建军 Zhào Jiànjūn) and Zhao Jiaxing (赵佳兴 Zhào Jiāxīng), 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.[1]
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.[2]
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.[3][4]
Product ranges
TP-Link products include high speed cable modems, wireless routers, mobile phones, ADSL, range extenders, routers, switches, IP cameras, power-line adapters, print servers, media converters, wireless adapters, power banks, USB hubs, and smart home devices. TP-Link also manufactured the OnHub router for Google.[3] In 2016 the company launched the new brand Neffos for smart phones.[5][6] TP-Link manufactures smart home devices under their Kasa Smart and Tapo product lines.[7][8]
![5-Port Gigabit Ethernet Switch from TP-Link](../I/5_Port_Gigabit_Netzwerk-Switch_TL-SG1005D_03.jpg.webp)
![](../I/TP-Link_Wireless_N_Router_WR845N.jpg.webp)
![](../I/TP_Link_2.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Wlan-router-tp-link-backside.jpg.webp)
TP-Link sells through multiple sales channels globally, including traditional retailers, online retailers, wholesale distributors, direct market resellers ("DMRs"), value-added resellers ("VARs") and broadband service providers. Its main competition includes companies such as Netgear, Buffalo, Belkin, Linksys, D-Link and ASUS.
Brands
Deco
Deco is a family of mesh-network products. The first of this category was the TP-Link M5, followed up by the M9 Plus which had backhaul compatibility improving on the usable bandwidth in certain cases compared to the M5. At the same time, TP-Link also introduced the Deco P7 which was a power-line connected mesh-network system meaning nodes communicate through the electrical wiring of the domicile compared to the wireless transmissions of the other Deco products. The Deco P7 has since been replaced with the newer Deco P9 which has a different aesthetic but the same wireless performance. Recent products in the series include the Deco M4 and S4 which have the same wireless bandwidth, with only slight differences in design. Further products have been introduced, including the Deco X20 as a new base model, and the Deco X60 as a mid-tier model with higher bandwidth but the same overall design. The Deco X90 is the most powerful of the current Deco family, with more than double the bandwidth compared to the X60 model, and a larger design compared to the other models.
Neffos
![](../I/Neffos_logo.png.webp)
Neffos is a brand operated by TP-Link since 2015, for the production of mobile phones and smartphones.[9]
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 and integrates with Amazon Alexa and the Google Assistant.[10] Other offerings from Tapo include a line of home security Wi-Fi cameras [11] and a line of smart lighting appliances.[12]
In late 2022, Tapo releases its Tapo C225[13] security wi-fi camera which has 2K QHD (2560 × 1440 px) image sensor and frame rate. This is an improvement from its earlier Tapo C210 (3MP) and Tapo C200 (1080p Full HD) models because these three models all have the same view range with night vision. The Tapo C225 AI functionality is due to additional input trigger for activity notifications.
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 (ODMs). The company says this control over components and the supply chain is a key competitive differentiator.[14]
References
- "Network-gear firm TP-Link thinks big in US market|Across Americas|chinadaily.com.cn". Usa.chinadaily.com.cn. 5 April 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- Richard Xu (15 September 2013). "Richard Xu, Vice President - TP-Link". Businessinterviews.com. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- "TP-Link Transforms From Purveyor of Fine Tools to Smart Life Enabler". CNET. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- "Introducing The New TP-Link®-TP-Link Unveils Completely New Look and Brand Identity". TP-Link. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
- "NEFFOS PHONES". Gadgets 360.
- "Welcome to Neffos". www.neffos.com.
- "Smart Home | TP-Link". www.tp-link.com. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
- "Welcome to Tapo". www.tapo.com. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- "About Neffos - Welcome To Neffos". www.neffos.com. Retrieved 7 July 2017.
- "Tapo Smartens Up Home Appliances". Tapo. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- "Tapo C200 Pan/Tilt Home Security Wi-Fi Camera Announcement". Tapo. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- "Tapo Smart Wi-Fi Light Bulb L510". Tapo. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
- "Tapo C225".
- "TP-LINK Targets Aggressive U.S. Expansion, VARs Included". CRN. Archived from the original on 5 January 2012. Retrieved 7 March 2014.