Logitech

Logitech International S.A. commonly referred to as Logitech or Logi; stylized as logitech, previously LOGITECH) is a Swiss provider of personal computer and mobile accessories, with its headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland and administrative headquarters in Newark, California. In addition to its Swiss and American facilities, 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: Americas; Europe, Middle East and Africa; Asia Pacific.

The company develops and markets personal peripherals for PC navigation, video communication and collaboration, music and smart homes. This includes products like keyboards, mice, tablet accessories, webcams, Bluetooth speakers, universal remotes and more.

The name Logitech is derived from the French word for software, “logiciel”.[3] In Japan, Logitech was established as Logicool to avoid conflict with the Logitec brand.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.[4]

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.[5]

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.[6][7]

In August 2008, Logitech acquired Ultimate Ears, supplier of custom in-ear monitors for professional musicians and earphones for the consumer market.[8]

In December 2008, Logitech announced that it had manufactured one billion mice since 1985.[9]

In July 2011, Logitech acquired the mobile visual communications provider, Mirial.[10]

In January 2013, Bracken Darrell became Logitech’s chief executive officer and then CEO Guerrino De Luca continued as Logitech’s chairman of the board.[11]

In April 2016, Logitech agreed to pay US$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.[12]

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

On August 11, 2017, Logitech acquired Astro Gaming, makers of professional gaming equipment (mainly headset solutions), for US$85 million in cash