X10 Wireless Technology
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Home automation, electronics |
| Predecessor | Pico Electronics, Ltd. / X10 Ltd. |
| Founded | 1999 in Kent, Washington, United States |
| Fate | Filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy (2013) |
| Headquarters | Kent , United States |
| Products | Wireless video cameras, remote control systems for household appliances |
| Parent | Hong Kong-Bermuda parent company |
X10 Wireless Technology, Inc. operated as a U.S.-based branch of a Hong Kong-Bermuda parent company, primarily recognized for distributing wireless video cameras through contentious pop-under ad campaigns. The company also offered a remote control system for lamps and household appliances that utilized the existing electrical wiring in homes alongside the X10 industry standard protocol. Established in 1999 in Kent, Washington, X10 specialized in products related to home automation.
History
X10's roots trace back to Pico Electronics, Ltd., a Scottish engineering enterprise founded in 1974, which later became known as X10 Ltd. The firm was among the founding participants of the Home Automation and Networking Association.
During the late 1970s, X10 items made their way into the U.S. market through hobbyist catalogs, with Radio Shack broadening consumer availability starting in 1978. Following this, retailers such as Sears introduced X10 and comparable products to their offerings.
In 1989, the company introduced the SS5400, a wireless security system designed for self-installation. By 1995, it had launched ORCA Monitoring Services based in Seattle to provide monitoring for these security solutions.
The website X10.com went live on December 26, 1996, becoming an early and aggressive player in internet marketing; by 2001, its web traffic had surpassed that of Amazon and eBay, largely due to its extensive use of pop-under advertisements.
Beginning in 1998 under the One-For-All brand, X10 produced universal remote controls for Universal Electronics, Inc. (UEI), manufacturing up to one million units monthly. It also supplied remotes to original equipment manufacturers such as Philips and gained recognition for its comprehensive infrared code database, positioning it among the largest universal remote producers globally.
On August 2, 2013, X10 filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington, reporting liabilities estimated between $1 million and $10 million.