Intel buys Killer NIC maker Rivet Networks

Intel announced the acquisition of Rivet Networks, this company is best known for its line of Killer NICs. These chips are used in gaming laptops to minimize latency and for stuff like prioritize certain traffic like gaming and VoIP. It's an interesting acquisition as many gamers view Killer as being primarily about marketing, and not as superior in real-world situations versus the NICs offered by Intel. Intel didn't disclose how much it paid for Rivet Networks.

So what's next for Rivet Networks? Intel says it will integrate the company's products into its WiFi portfolio:

Intel has been investing and contributing to the evolution of Wi-Fi for more than 20 years, and today we’re excited to announce another leap forward. We are acquiring Rivet Networks, a leader in software and cloud-based technologies for networking connectivity.

Rivet Networks is a terrific complement to our existing Wi-Fi products and helps us further our vision of delivering PC platforms that power every person’s greatest contribution. Rivet Networks’ products deliver speed, intelligence and control for gamers and performance users. Its products maximize Wi-Fi bandwidth utilization and optimize the wireless network connection on your platform. In addition, Rivet Networks’ products can also utilize the combination of Ethernet and Wi-Fi to prioritize traffic over both connections.

Its team will join our Wireless Solutions Group within the Client Computing Group. Rivet Networks’ key products, including its Killer brand, will integrate into Intel’s broader PC Wi-Fi portfolio. With the addition of Rivet Networks’ software, we will license its software to customers and develop new solutions for broader PC connectivity enhancement. With Rivet Networks’ and Intel’s leading Wi-Fi products, we can scale our PC Wi-Fi portfolio to better serve our customers, ecosystem and channel partners.