Plume (company)

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Plume
FounderFahri Diner
Headquarters
Palo Alto, California
Key people
  • Fahri Diner (CEO)
  • Todd Grantham (CMO)
  • Murat Kocaman (CFO)
  • Shari Piré (Chief Legal and Sustainability Officer)
Websitewww.plume.com

Plume is a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) company that provides self-optimizing WiFi services, visibility, and network control for Communications Service Providers (CSPs) and their subscribers, such as personal households and small businesses.

The company is based in Palo Alto, California and was founded by Fahri Diner.[1][2]

History[edit]

Plume was founded in 2015 by Fahri Diner.[3] The company began offering its cloud-delivered services in June 2016.[4]

In 2017, Plume raised $63 million in funding.[5] In 2018, the company changed to a subscription model beginning with its Adaptive Wi-Fi service[2][6] and new SuperPods.[2] The SuperPods are slightly larger than the first generation pods, capable of faster speeds, and contain two integrated Ethernet ports.[2]

In February 2019, TalkTalk, a UK-based telecommunications company, signed a deal with Plume to bring Plume Wi-Fi to TalkTalk’s broadband customers.[7] After a month, Plume's services became available to all UK households.[7][8] In November, the company expanded into Asia when it announced a deal with J:COM, Japan's largest cable-TV operator.[9]

In November 2020, Plume acquired British Columbia-based network intelligence and security software firm Walleye.[10] Plume also started working with POST Luxembourg.[10]

The company works with more than 240 service providers including Comcast, Charter, Qualcomm, Cablevision, Shaw Communications, Bell Canada, and Liberty Global.[11][12][13] It also partners with U.S. cable television cooperative NCTC, Sagemcom, and customer-premises equipment (CPE) vendors and resellers such as Technicolor and ADTRAN.[14]

In October 2021, it was announced that Plume raised $300 million in a Series F round, bringing Plume's valuation up to $2.6 billion.[15][16]

Services[edit]

Plume provides an adaptive WiFi platform with cloud management services that works automatically to self-optimize network connections.[17][18][19] It provides interoperability for homes and businesses that may be using smart devices from different manufacturers.[20] Plume’s products are open, allowing them to work with any CSP.[20][21]

Using its cloud management, Plume can identify and measure network traffic and then make changes to provide better performance.[22] For example, if the bedrooms in a home are empty because everyone is in the living room streaming a movie in HD, Plume’s network will route more bandwidth to the streaming device in the living room.[4] The company provides WiFi through its tri-band pods, which plug into wall outlets, or through an OpenSync integration into a CSP’s existing Customer Premises Equipment (CPE).[23][24]

Plume’s services include:

  • Adaptive WiFi:[25] Plume adjusts bandwidth as load demand shifts throughout the day.[26]
  • Control:[27] allows users to set up profiles and manage devices and usage, set individual WiFi passwords for guests, and restrict guest access to certain devices
  • Motion sensing:[28] uses WiFi radio waves to detect motion in areas of a house. The functionality uses OpenSync nodes or, Plume’s SuperPods, and connected IoT devices to provide the sensing information.[28]
  • AI Security[28]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Plume introduces WorkPass for small businesses". ComputerWeekly.com. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  2. ^ a b c d Moor Insights and Strategy. "First Look: Plume Blossoms With New SuperPods And Membership Offering". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  3. ^ Rogers, Bruce. "Fahri Diner Builds Plume As The World's First SaaS Experience Platform For CSPs And Their Subscribers". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-10-07.
  4. ^ a b Cava, Marco della. "Plume promises faster home WiFi linked to the cloud". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  5. ^ "Plume Design Gets Funding". Cablefax. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  6. ^ Neuts, Dana E. (2018-06-13). "Plume Launches Adaptive WiFi Via Subscription for $60 a Year". Subscription Insider. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  7. ^ a b Pocket-lint (2019-03-26). "Plume mesh network system now available to all UK customers". www.pocket-lint.com. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  8. ^ Pocket-lint (2019-02-12). "TalkTalk brings Plume mesh Wi-Fi SuperPods to the UK at last". www.pocket-lint.com. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
  9. ^ Salter, Jim (2019-11-01). "We are the Plume. We will assimilate your Wi-Fi. Do not resist". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2022-02-11.
  10. ^ a b "Germany confirms 6 GHz decision, Plume acquires Walleye, and Airties rebrands". Wi-Fi NOW Global. 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  11. ^ "Plume raises $300m to develop communications services with AI". ComputerWeekly.com. Retrieved 2021-11-05.
  12. ^ "Plume eyes 6 GHz as Wi-Fi becomes hip again". FierceWireless. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  13. ^ "Plume picks up $270M at a $1.35B valuation to power smart home Wi-Fi for broadband providers". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  14. ^ "Smart Wi-Fi pioneer Plume reaches 20M homes served & 150 CSP clients". Wi-Fi NOW Global. 2020-12-15. Retrieved 2021-06-10.
  15. ^ "Plume raises $300M as it passes 1.2B devices in 35M homes using its smart WiFi service". www.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  16. ^ "Plume, startup improving WiFi experience, raises $300 million mostly from SoftBank". Reuters. 2021-10-12. Retrieved 2021-10-12.
  17. ^ Cava, Marco della. "Plume promises faster home WiFi linked to the cloud". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  18. ^ "Plume picks up $270M at a $1.35B valuation to power smart home Wi-Fi for broadband providers". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  19. ^ "Why This Smart Home Solutions Provider Isn't Worried About a Silicon Shortage". ReadWrite. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-11-04.
  20. ^ a b "Why This Smart Home Solutions Provider Isn't Worried About a Silicon Shortage". ReadWrite. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  21. ^ Rogers, Bruce. "Fahri Diner Builds Plume As The World's First SaaS Experience Platform For CSPs And Their Subscribers". Forbes. Retrieved 2021-11-19.
  22. ^ "Plume picks up $270M at a $1.35B valuation to power smart home Wi-Fi for broadband providers". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  23. ^ "Branch Designs Plume Wifi Pods". www.dexigner.com. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  24. ^ "Plume Design Gets Funding". Cablefax. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2022-04-08.
  25. ^ Vena, Mark (2018-06-13). "First Look: Plume Blossoms With New SuperPods And Membership Offering". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  26. ^ Cava, Marco della (2016-06-16). "Plume promises faster home WiFi linked to the cloud". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  27. ^ Neuts, Dana E. (2018-06-13). "Plume Launches Adaptive WiFi Via Subscription for $60 a Year". Subscription Insider. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  28. ^ a b c Vena, Mark (2020-01-07). "Plume Asserts Its Smart Home 2.0 Aspirations With Motion Awareness Capability". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-05-12.