Labtec: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|American computer accessory manufacturer}}

{{Infobox_Company |

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}

company_name = Labtec|

{{Infobox company

company_logo = [[Image:LabtecLogo.gif|Labtec logo]] |

| name = Labtec Inc.

company_type = [[Private company|Private]] |

| logo = Labtec-Logo.svg

company_slogan = Fill in|

| former_name = {{ubl|Labtec Enterprises Inc.|Spacetec IMC Corporation}}

foundation = [[1982]]|

| type = {{ubl|Private (1980–1998)|Public (1998–2001)}}

___location = [[Singapore]]|

| fate = Acquired by [[Logitech]]

key_people = |

| foundation = {{start date and age|1982}}

num_employees = |

| defunct = {{end date and age|2001}}

products = [[Multimedia]], [[Information Technology|IT]]|

| location_city = [[Vancouver, Washington]]

revenue = |

| location_country = United States

homepage = [http://www.labtec.com/]

| products = [[Headphones]], [[Headset (audio)|headsets]], [[Keyboard (computing)|keyboards]], [[mouse (computing)|mice]], [[Loudspeaker|speakers]], [[webcam]]s

| website = {{web archive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001206165200/http://www.labtec.com/index_us.htm|title=labtec.com}}

}}

Founded in 1982, Labtec Inc. is a leading provider of value-priced peripherals and accessories for computing, communication and entertainment. Labtec offers a broad array of products.

'''Labtec Enterprises Inc.'''<ref name=hfd /> was an American manufacturer of computer accessories active as an independent company from 1980 to 2001. They were best known for their budget range of [[peripheral]]s such as [[Computer keyboard|keyboards]], [[Mouse (computing)|mice]], [[microphone]]s, [[Loudspeaker|speakers]] and [[webcam]]s. In the United States, the company had cornered the market for computer speakers and headphones for much of the 1990s before being acquired by [[Logitech]] in 2001.<ref name=great>{{cite journal | last=Johnson | first=Lisa | date=July 10, 1995 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A17239856/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=Labtec: new computer speakers great for gamesters, audiophiles | journal=HFN | publisher=BridgeTower Media | volume=69 | issue=28 | page=83 | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | last=Metz | first=Cate | date=July 2002 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4wrzqgoyktsC&pg=PA124 | title=Webcams | journal=PC Magazine | publisher=Ziff-Davis | volume=21 | issue=13 | page=124 | via=Google Books}}</ref>

Labtec currently sells to most of the largest and fastest growing retailers, master distributors and original equipment manufacturers, with all channels served on a worldwide basis.

== History ==

In late [[2001]] [[Logitech|Logitech International]], the No. 1 maker of wireless computer mice, agreed to buy Labtec for about US$125 million in cash, stock and debt to expand its line of audio products for personal computers and other devices.

[[File:LabtecSpeaker.JPG|thumb|left|upright=0.75|A speaker from Labtec]]

Labtec Enterprises Inc. was founded in 1980 by Charles Dunn and based in [[Vancouver, Washington]], for most of its independent existence. The company was initially focused on providing audio gear (primarily headsets) for the airline industry before branching out to providing peripherals for personal computers in 1990.<ref name=hot>{{cite journal | last=Schubert | first=Korrie | date=August 13, 1993 | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-labtec-pc-gear-is-hot-pag/126791886/ | title=Labtec PC gear is hot | journal=The Columbian | page=C7, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian-labtec-pc-gear-is-hot-pag/126791903/ C8] | via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name=hfd>{{cite journal | last=Greenberg | first=Manning | date=February 15, 1993 | url=https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A13442141/GPS?sid=wikipedia | title=Sound boards boom: Sales explosion propelling computer speakers | journal=Home Furnishings Daily | publisher=BridgeTower Media | volume=67 | issue=7 | page=98 | via=Gale}}</ref> By the mid-1990s Labtec catered to three segments: the personal computer buyer, providing speakers and microphones; the airline industry, providing headphones and headsets; and the professional audiovisual and telephonics industry, providing audio cables, switches, and junction boxes. The company employed 20 people domestically at the company's combined headquarters and warehouse in Vancouver, Washington, in 1993. Meanwhile, the bulk of the company's products were manufactured overseas in Hong Kong and Taiwan.<ref name=hot /> In 1993, the company was selling about 150,000 speakers to consumers a month.<ref name=hfd />

In 1998, Labtec merged with Spacetec IMC Corporation, becoming a new publicly traded corporation in the process.<ref name=merging>{{cite journal | last=Brown | first=Craig | date=October 22, 1998 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/252890907/ | title=Labtec Inc. Merging with Spacetec IMC | journal=The Columbian | page=D1 |id={{ProQuest| 252890907}} }}</ref> The combined company changed its name to '''Labtec Inc.''' in February 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=104956 |title=Bloomberg Labtec Inc. Research |website=Bloomberg News |accessdate=May 29, 2019 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529134452/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=104956 | archivedate=May 29, 2019}}</ref> Spacetec IMC had manufactured 6DOF controllers for use with CAD software. A ''[[3Dconnexion#History|Spaceball]] 2003'' controller was used to control the [[Mars Pathfinder]] spacecraft in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/spacetec-controller-used-in-mars-pathfinder-mission/1100-2466555/|title=Spacetec Controller Used in Mars Pathfinder Mission|date=April 26, 2000|work=GameSpot|accessdate=May 29, 2019|last=Hedstrom|first=Kate|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529134450/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/spacetec-controller-used-in-mars-pathfinder-mission/1100-2466555/|archivedate=May 29, 2019}}</ref>

==Products==

Labtec is most well-known for:

*'''PC Voice Access''' [[microphone|microphones]], headsets, and personal audio [[headphones]] enhance your interactive audio experience

*'''Multimedia [[Speakers]]''' do it all with clear, rich sound, stylish design, at a good price [[Image:LabtecArena685.jpg|thumb|250px|Labtec Arena 685]]

*A new line of '''[[Mouse|Mice]]''' offers comfortable control as well as unique design

*'''[[Keyboard|Keyboards]] and [[Desktop|Desktops]]''' combine multimedia control and workspace freedom

*'''[[WebCam|WebCams]]''' help you easily create video or still images to stay in contact with your loved ones

In 2001, [[Logitech]] bought Labtec for approximately USD$125 million in cash, stock and debt in order to expand its line of audio products for personal computers and other devices.<ref>{{cite journal | date=February 8, 2001 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/431681162/ | title=Peripherals Makers to Merge | journal=The New York Times | page=5 |id={{ProQuest|431681162 }} }}</ref>

==See also==

* [[Logitech]]

==External linksReferences ==

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

* [http://www.labtec.com/index.cfm?countryid=1001&languageid=1/ Official Labtec site]

== External links ==

[[Category:Brands]]

* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001206165200/http://www.labtec.com/index_us.htm|title=Official website}}

[[Category:1982 establishments]]

* [[{{Logitech]]}}

{{Compu-hardware-stub}}

[[Category:Telecommunications companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Telecommunications equipment vendors]]

[[Category:1982 establishmentsVideotelephony]]

[[Category:Companies based in Vancouver, Washington]]

[[Category:Telecommunications companies established in 1981]]

[[Category:Technology companies disestablished in 2001]]

[[Category:BrandsLogitech]]

[[Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States]]

[[Category:Defunct computer hardware companies]]