Pioneering the wireless connectivity revolution, 3Com Corporation today announced at Networld+Interop in Las Vegas its AirConnect wireless LAN solution for enterprise customers. 3Com`s 11 Mbps wireless LAN will enable organizations to extend their wired networks with fast, convenient and reliable access to information, applications and network services anywhere in the enterprise.
Wireless LANs improve productivity by providing mobile workers with on-demand access to information when they are away from their desk. Unlike the slower wireless LANs in use today, the 3Com solution is based on the forthcoming IEEE 802.11 High Rate (HR) standard. It delivers the most wired-like experience with Ethernet speed, secure data transmission and sophisticated software that makes the solution simple to configure, monitor and manage, explains 3Com SA`s pre sales engineer, Henk van Eck.
"Productivity benefits have driven the success of wireless LANs in healthcare, education, manufacturing and retail - expanding the market to $425 million in 1998," says Jeff Abramowitz, president of the Wireless LAN Alliance. "The need for business critical information exchange using e-mail, corporate data and the Internet, combined with wireless technology and mobile platform advancements, enable high speed wireless LANs to provide similar benefits in horizontal applications."
"A tidal wave of new portable devices coming into the enterprise is beginning to create havoc for IS managers," says Bob Egan, Research Director, Mobile and Wireless from Gartner Group. "High speed, standards based wireless LAN`s allow IS managers to extend the capability of their LAN. Existing enterprise investments in network infrastructure and applications can be preserved and more fully exploited because wireless LANs bring these resources to the end users as it should have been all along! Effective solutions will be best delivered by experienced network equipment vendors who understand the network integration, manageability and performance requirements of their customers."
AirConnect Wireless LAN Solution
The 3Com solution comprises four products, including access points, notebook PC Cards, desktop Network Interface Cards (NICs) and network management software. "The access point acts as a bridge between the wired network and up to 63 wireless clients. Affixed to a ceiling or wall, access points send and receive data from users within 200 feet in a standard office environment," says 3Com`s van Eck. "When users roam between access points, they are seamlessly handed off to the closest point with the strongest signal."
3Com AirConnect PC Cards and desktop NICs feature DynamicAccess Mobile Connection Manager software will provide simple configuration and diagnostics for both wired and wireless networks saving time for IS managers and mobile users.
"3Com`s AirConnect wireless LAN is a high speed, standards-based wireless solution that will meet the needs of both the mobile professional and the network manager," says Rich Redelfs, general manager of 3Com`s Wireless Connectivity Division. "We are pleased to offer the industry`s most reliable and easiest-to-manage solution at a price point that will enable broad adoption by small, medium and large enterprise customers."
Network Management Software
AirConnect Wireless LAN Access Points support the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). Network managers can use 3Com`s Web-based access point administration tool to quickly monitor performance, change configuration or run diagnostics on any access point from anywhere on the network, explains 3Com`s van Eck.
"For large installations, 3Com`s network management software will provide standards-based, integrated management for configuring, analyzing and troubleshooting 3Com network systems," he adds.
Security Features
The 3Com AirConnect Wireless LAN solution offers several security measures to ensure the integrity of data transferred between wireless clients and access points. The solution features encryption, access point locking, user authentication and domain identification to prevent unauthorized users from intercepting wireless data packets.
The 3Com AirConnect Wireless LAN solution for enterprise customers is scheduled to be available later this year. All 3Com AirConnect products will be compatible with Microsoft Windows 95/98, NT 4.0 and CE operating systems. In addition, they will be interoperable with IEEE 802.11 products based on the IEEE 802.11 and 802.11 HR standards.
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3Com Corporation
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com Corporation connects more people in more ways to information than any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative information access products and network system solutions to large, medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com `More connected`. For further information, visit 3Com`s World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.
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