The Next Net

I just bought a Linksys WAG160N ADSL modem/router that I am going to bring back to the retail store. The main reason it that it will not connect to my Nokia E61i phone on anything more than the old-fashioned (and insecure) WEP. My phone works fine with WPA2 on real Cisco APs; it also works with competing products, including the AVM Fritz!Box that was using earlier – and was partially destroyed by a thunder strike on the street telephone cabinet where my DSL phone line connects.  My phone just does not work with the Linksys WAG160N. This is actually a known issue that I found out too late. however, it does not seem to be solved and no indication shows that it was acknowledged, even less on the way to be fixed.

I work with a lot of Cisco products in my day job. I have the pleasure to know many folks at Cisco. Most of them were telling me that Linksys somehow usurpts the Cisco label with inferior quality products. How right they were. I should have listened to what  Cisco’s own staff was telling me.

My online chat with the Linksys support staff did not resolve the issue. WEP works, but who dares to use WEP these days ? My advice to John Chambers and all those at Cisco who care about the company image is to stop your subsidiary from using the Cisco name.