Logitech on Tuesday introduced the slim USB Unifying Receiver, a new approach made to pair up multiple Unifying-compatible wireless Logitech mice and keyboards. Thus far, Logitech's system includes the new K350 and K340 wireless keyboards as well as similarly new M705 and M505 mice. The USB receiver is shaped like the existing Nano Receiver and protrudes less than a third of an inch from the side of a notebook or desktop PC or Mac, allowing users to leave it plugged in without worrying about catching it on anything.

The new Unifying receiver can be used with as many as six Unifying-compatible Logitech peripherals. The first device is automatically recognized, but pairing more devices requires users to download Unifying software that will guide users on how to pair them up. Based on 2.4GHz RF wireless, data sent across the link is protected by 128-bit AES encryption to prevent casually intercepting data.

The Unifying receiver will ship bundled with Logitech's K350 and K340 keyboards, both of which will become available in September, priced at $60 and $50, respectively. The M705 and M505 mice will ship early in 2010, priced at $70 and $50, respectively.