Lenovo flips on the Switchbox

The PC maker buys the mysterious start-up that "develops consumer technologies."

Erica Ogg Former Staff writer, CNET News

Erica Ogg is a CNET News reporter who covers Apple, HP, Dell, and other PC makers, as well as the consumer electronics industry. She's also one of the hosts of CNET News' Daily Podcast. In her non-work life, she's a history geek, a loyal Dodgers fan, and a mac-and-cheese connoisseur.

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Erica Ogg

Jan. 29, 2009 10:38 a.m. PT

Lenovo has acquired a small start-up headed by a former Microsoft executive.

Switchbox Labs is based in Seattle and was founded by Michael Sievert, Robert Dickinson, and Blake Ramsdell. Sievert left his position as Windows Mobile marketing executive last February. All three will join Lenovo, and Sievert will become a senior vice president reporting directly to Lenovo chief executive Bill Amelio.

Switchbox focuses on "developing consumer technologies." Beyond that, little is known about the company. Its projects are "confidential," according to Lenovo, but it's expected that the technologies developed will be integrated into future Lenovo products.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.