Intellon Corporation

In 1989, a company called Intellon was founded in Ocala, Florida, with a straightforward idea: what if you could send data over the electrical wiring that already exists in every home and building? This concept, known as powerline communications (PLC), aimed to create instant networks without the need for new, dedicated cables. Intellon focused its research and development on PLC technology, creating the baseline technology for the HomePlug 1.0 standard and introducing the first HomePlug-compliant integrated circuit in 2001. This allowed devices like PCs, gaming consoles, and set-top boxes to communicate over existing power lines. The company continued to innovate, developing chips that could distribute multiple high-definition video streams throughout a home. After several rounds of venture capital funding from investors including Goldman Sachs, UMC Capital, and Samsung, Intellon went public in December 2007, pricing its initial public offering at $6 per share. The company's technology was gaining traction, with over 40 million chipsets shipped and deployments with 50 service providers. In September 2009, the next chapter of Intellon's story was written. Atheros Communications, a major player in wireless networking, announced it would acquire Intellon for approximately $244 million in a cash and stock deal. The move was strategic for Atheros, expanding its portfolio beyond Wi-Fi and Ethernet into the growing market for home networking and smart grid applications, effectively combining wireless and wired technologies for the digital home.