HP breathes new life into the wireless workplace

Companies can experience real mobile power through the installation of a wireless local area network solution. All one needs, says Traci Maynard, IPG manager at Tarsus Technologies is a notebook, PDA, access points and wireless LAN cards.

HP has a range of products, available from Tarsus Technologies that support the rapidly expanding wireless market.

A wireless LAN enables users to move freely about the office - within a range of 90 metres - and remain `connected` while being completely unconnected. If users find themselves in a space that is difficult to wire, a wireless solution provides instant access to a network.

"The HP wireless LAN delivers data speeds of 11Mbps and is fully IEEE 802.11b-compliant. Now organisations can invest with confidence knowing that Ethernet-like performance and system stability is built-in," Maynard continues. "The solution also makes use of an access point with resident encryption ensuring that valuable information is secure."

Tarsus Technologies has a variety of light, thin, ultra-portable notebooks from HP to suit any wireless set-up. The "professional" line comprises the VT 6200 series, the 6100 series and the Omnibook 510. The XE 4100, XE 4400, XE 4500 and the XT 6200 series and XT 6050 series make up the "essential" line. The HP Pavilion ZT 1000 series PC is well suited to personal users.

A wireless LAN will be of no use whatsoever without access points - gateways to the corporate network, allowing users within proximity to hook into e-mail, the Internet and network files. The HP Lucent 802.11b wireless LAN access point provides easy network access to mobile users and locations that are difficult to wire. The unique architecture features dual PC card slots, enabling users to protect their investment, double their network capacity and creates a wireless backbone.

From access points to LAN cards - the HP 802.11b wireless LAN card (128 bit) provides high-speed wireless networking, enabling the freedom to roam around buildings or offices with the same high-performance connectivity one would gain from a wired Ethernet connection.

The PC card fully inter-operates with other WiFi certified solutions and equips notebooks with the ability to roam the corporate campus while maintaining access to the network.

To round off this complete offering, HP`s internal and external wireless print servers/Internet connectors are available to help organisations to reduce costs and increase flexibility by sharing a broad range of printers across an 802.11b wireless network," Maynard points out.

The HP wireless print server wp110 is a simple and cost-effective way for multiple Mac or PC users to share a printer. By providing a secure, "no-wires" connection to an 802.11b wireless network, users enjoy the ultimate office layout flexibility.

The HP Jetdirect 380x external- and the HP Jetdirect 680n internal wireless print server both connect to 802.11b wireless networks supporting a variety of operating systems. Both Jetdirects facilitate secure data transmission with support for 40/64 bit as well as 128-bit WEP encryption.

The rapid development of the wireless market has empowered business and placed the spotlight on mobility within the workplace. Companies should expect to go places - without any strings attached.