With the launch of the ZoomAir family of standards-based Radio Wireless Networking products (WLANS), Zoom Telephonics is setting the pace in what is tipped by industry observers to be major growth market.
ZoomAir heralds a major breakthrough by significantly reducing the cost of Radio Wireless Networks complying with the IEEE 802.11 DSSS standard; the international standard for industry-wide compatibility - now, and in the future.
The result is truly affordable, industry standard Wireless Local Area Networking, with unparalleled mobility, flexibility and ease of installation - all without wires. Users need simply to plug a ZoomAir Wireless Network Interface Card (ISA or PCMCIA card) into a Windows 95, 98 or NT computer, install the software, and the network connection is complete.
This combination not only makes WLANs an important adjunct to wired LANs, but a preferable (and even superior) solution in many instances. As such, ZoomAir has the potential to dramatically expand the scope and opportunities for network solutions. For example: Small / medium office: Where the total cost of installation and equipment often makes wireless less expensive than a wired LAN.
. Large office: Where laptops and other stand-alone PCs can be quickly linked to the wired LAN.
. Home: Convenient, wireless connections to the Internet are the future of computing and key to the new generation of 'Internet appliances'.
. Hospital, school or shop floor: Where wireless equates to safety, flexibility and economy.
The first three members of the new ZoomAir product line are the ZoomAir ISA Wireless NIC, the ZoomAir PC Card (PCMCIA) Wireless NIC and ZoomAir Access Point Software.
Zoom's IEEE 802.11 Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) compliant products can interoperate with wired 10BaseT or 100BaseT Ethernet in large enterprises, and can also provide an excellent solution as a primary LAN for smaller networks.
ZoomAir products enable peer-to-peer and Ethernet network access at up to 2 Mbps over a range of up to 300 feet indoors and over 1,000 feet in outdoor settings.
"Unencumbered by cabling, and offering unparalleled mobility, flexibility and ease of installation, low cost Wireless LANs are set to change the face of networking," comments Godfrey Frayne, Zoom sub-Saharan sales manager.
"I believe that 802.11 DSSS standard products are the right choice for most people selecting a wireless LAN", he continues. "The 802.11 standard assures interoperability in a wide range of environments including offices, homes, factories and schools. And 802.11 gives the customer lots of choices for equipment, software, and suppliers."
ZoomAir NICs transform any Windows 95/98 or NT4 notebook, laptop, or desktop PC into a wireless networked workstation. ZoomAir products operate in the 2.4 GHz Instrumentation, Medical, and Scientific (ISM) radio frequency band and are based on the Harris Radio Prism chipset. The ISM radio frequency is less affected by interference than wireless solutions that operate at lower frequencies. The 2.4 GHz band is also much less affected by common physical barriers, such as walls, or people passing between communicating units.
Advanced performance features of the ZoomAir NICs include intelligent power control, with a power-saving standby mode to maximize laptop battery life, and Flash memory for easy upgrades.
ZoomAir radio transceivers (network interface cards) have successfully passed European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) testing. Zoom's wireless LAN products will be approved for use in at least 14 European countries, the Americas and South Africa.
Data security concerns are addressed through Wired Equivalency Privacy (WEP), which provides 40-bit data encryption. In addition, Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum is inherently difficult to monitor using surveillance equipment because it breaks the data signal into multiple, fluctuating frequency bands that are difficult to decode.
ZoomAir Access Point Software provides a low-cost bridge between wired and wireless networks, extends the range of wireless networks and increases the total system capacity. Zoom's Access Point Software also includes Internet sharing with firewall security to allow all wireless and wired network users to access a single Internet connection. Any PC running Windows 95/98 or NT4.0 which is also equipped with a ZoomAir NIC and ZoomAir Access Point software can become an access point.
When ZoomAir is used in ad hoc (peer-to-peer) mode, ZoomAir Access Point Software is not required to provide Internet sharing. A variety of other Internet sharing software packages can also be used, including: Sygate, RideWay, or I.Share.
The 802.11 DSSS standard currently supports a data rate of 2 Mbps with collision avoidance. Collision avoidance increases network throughput to an effective data rate greater than a wired 2 Mbps network using collision detection. Future generations of standards-compatible DSSS products from Zoom are expected to have data rates up to 11 Mbps with backward compatibility to 2 Mbps products.
Additional advantages of ZoomAir wireless networks over wired networks include:
. Mobility
ZoomAir provides users with real-time network access anywhere in the range of their network peers or access points. It's ideal for conference rooms, hospital buildings, school campuses, warehouses, and manufacturing areas.
. Ease of installation
The ZoomAir Wireless PC Card supports existing network software and appears to a PC as a wired 10BaseT Ethernet NIC.Wireless networks can be set up without the expense and disruption of pulling cable through walls, floors, and ceilings. Furthermore, wireless technology enables the network to operate anywhere within the range of the system, often where wire cannot go.
. Easy moves
The wireless LAN connection moves with the PC. In addition, an entire wireless network easily moves to a new location.
. Reduced cost of ownership
Overall installation expenses and life-cycle costs of a wireless LAN can be significantly lower than that of a wired LAN, especially in dynamic environments requiring frequent moves and changes
. Scalability
Zoom's wireless LAN can be configured in a variety of topologies to meet the needs of specific applications and installations. Configurations are easily changed and range from peer-to-peer networks suitable for a small number of users to full infrastructure networks of thousands of users that enable roaming over a broad area.
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Zoom Telephonics
Zoom Telephonics, a leading US producer of wide-area network solutions and an industry leader since 1977, designs, produces and markets Wireless LAN products, faxmodems, ISDN products and other products that link people and their personal computers through the world's largest network, the international telephone network, and connected networks including the Internet and corporate local area networks.
Zoom and Hayes are two of the company's powerful brand names. Its products are sold worldwide.
Zoom branded products are available exclusively in South Africa from Siltek Distribution Dynamics (SDD).