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Editor's Perspective
The turnkey effect
By Dan O'Shea
April 8, 2003
With the entry of vendors such as Nortel Networks and
Airespace into the switched/managed wireless LAN arena, comes the promise of the turnkey WLAN.
These single-vendor, multi-tiered architectures bring several security, management and planning advantages that will help Wi-Fi technology make the transition from the coffee house to the corporate enterprise. Though the equipment in these offerings can be mixed and matched with WLAN equipment from other vendors--you can use Nortel's security switch with another maker's access points, for example--enterprise users will not realize all the capabilities of these vendors' architectures unless they are deployed as a whole.
It remains to be seen what effect that fact will have on the deployment of Wi-Fi in the enterprise. Are there enough corporations that have enough existing WLAN equipment that they won't see the benefit of ripping it out for new architectures, even if they are much improved? Has the fragmented access point market created users loyal to one maker's access point over another?
Ultimately, the security and control inherent to the turnkey managed WLAN give it benefits that may out-distance these questions for many enterprise users, which is what the turnkey vendors are hoping.
If that does happen, it could have a significant effect on the Wi-Fi market overall. Vendor competition could thin, and equipment prices may eventually stop the freefall they've been in for several months. Companies deploying enterprise WLANs will have only a single point of contact for all their needs and problems.
That could help bring an end to Wi-Fi's Wild West era. That's a good thing, right?
E-mail me at doshea@primediabusiness.com.
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Top News
Horizon PCS sees possible covenant violations
By Toby Weber
April 1, 2003
Sprint PCS's affiliate woes just keep adding up.
Horizon PCS revealed that it will likely violate one or more of its debt covenants sometime this year, setting of a chain of events that could lead to the company's bankruptcy filing.
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Qwest plans harder push into wireless, VoIP and video
By Glenn Bischoff
April 3, 2003
Qwest said it plans to expand its wireless offering into a national footprint, among other strategic efforts.
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Research-In-Motion's revenues motor up
By Toby Weber
April 4, 2003
Research In Motion announced an 18% sequential jump in revenues for its fiscal fourth quarter, but reported a wider loss due to litigation expenses.
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iPass passes more hot spots
By Dan O'Shea
April 7, 2003
Wi-Fi virtual network operator iPass said it has now validated more than 1000 public hot spots for remote enterprise access, a milestone reached with one year after launching its Global Broadband Roaming Service.
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Airespace latest to enter managed WLAN space
By Dan O'Shea
April 7, 2003
Airespace, a San Jose, Calif. company chasing the en vogue opportunity for enterprise wireless LAN deployment, is announcing its solution for the management, quality-of-service and roaming challenges presented by the corporate networking landscape.
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Syndesis discvers mobile opportunity
By Dan O'Shea
April 8, 2003
Public network software provider
Syndesis, like many traditional wireline vendors that are realizing more immediate revenue opportunities reside among wireless carriers, is migrating to the mobile market.
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Nortel unveils Wi-Fi enterprise plan
By Dan O'Shea
April 7, 2003
Nortel Networks made an anticipated Wi-Fi wireless LAN strategy announcement last week that puts it among the hotly competitive markets for Wi-Fi access points and security switches, while also giving the vendor a stake in the embryonic market for voice over wireless LANs.
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Reporter's Notebook
802.16 gains steam
By Dan O'Shea
April 8, 2003
The IEEE 802.16 standard for wireless metropolitan area networks (MANs) was picking up some new support at press time.
Intel Corp. and several other Wi-Fi and broadband wireless companies have formed a new group called WiMax to help promote compatibility and interoperability among equipment that would be deployed in 802.16 MANs.
These MANs in many cases would cover distances of up to 30 miles, and could be used as backhaul for smaller Wi-Fi and broadband wireless access networks.
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Deal of the Week
Lattice likes tower deals
April 8, 2003
Lattice Communications has closed the deal on the purchases of 24 cell towers in the southeast from Enterprise Communications Partnership.
The site acquisition deal, which complements other Lattice properties in the Southeast, includes 10 towers in the Atlanta market and another 14 sites in the Birmingham, Ala., market.
Lattice is a provider of tower site rental space, and the purchase fits with the ongoing trend of tower management and rental companies buying properties from wireless carriers.
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