OnHub: Google debuts $199 WiFi router to provide better Internet connections
Google is launching its own WiFi router called OnHub in its bid to provide better Internet connections and easier access to its digital services.
OnHub, which is priced at $199, can be preordered from Amazon.com, Walmart.com, and Google's online store beginning Tuesday. The wireless router will also be available on shelves in the United States and in Canada starting late August or early September, according to the Calgary Herald.
Google is making waves in the world of Internet technology with this new cylinder-shaped wireless router. The California-based firm built OnHub with the help of networking device manufacturer TP-Link, the report adds.
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The tech giant says OnHub will be more user-friendly and more reliable compared to similar devices from Apple, Arris Group, Netgear, and other hardware manufacturers.
OnHub contains 13 antennas positioned in a circular array to achieve wider signal range. Six of these antennas are in charge of the 2.4 gigahertz frequency band, and another six are in charge of the 5 gigahertz band. The remaining antenna functions as a congestion detector, Light Reading explains.
Google product manager Trond Wuellner said the new WiFi router will be able to cater to the constantly changing needs of consumers because the company will release periodic updates that will add new features to the software.
Because it is user-friendly, the setup of OnHub can be done in just three minutes. It will also come with a mobile app called Google On, which is compatible with the iPhone and Android devices. Google On will be used to manage WiFi connections.
The router also has Bluetooth, Thread, ZigBee, 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, and WPA2-PSK security support, the report details.
The creation of OnHub is part of Google's efforts to make it easier for the public to connect to the Internet. In addition, Google needs a reliable WiFi system to boost its sale of smart appliances and equipment.
