Enterprise Wireless Growth Slow but Steady

But don't get the impression it's all gloom and doom. If there's one good thing to be said about tight IT budgets, it's that they force vendors to provide cost-effective solutions and to show up for their sales calls with a compelling ROI story. So there's plenty of good news to report about mobile and wireless and a wide range of products and services that are deserving of recognition.

Security is not surprisingly the top challenge facing the wireless market. The industry didn't solve this problem during the past year, but there is evidence of significant progress being made; for example, the 802.11i Task Group is currently working on its new security standard, IEEE 802.11i (see "The WLAN's Weakest Link").

Of course, problems in the wireless market extend beyond security. With standards evolving rapidly, there's plenty of anxiety about infrastructure investment protection. Performance concerns fester, with many IT professionals lamenting a return to the good old days of shared-media network systems, a development that has wireless vendors stretching the meaning of a network switch. And the biggest challenge that has network managers scratching their heads: How are they going to manage all this new stuff?Enterprise WLAN System |

Enterprise Mobile Computing Device | Point-to-Point Wireless Bridge | WLAN System and Security Management | Cellular Wireless Data Service | Wireless LAN Analyzer

Enterprise WLAN System

Winner: Cisco Aironet 1200 Series, Cisco Systems, (800) 553-6387, (408) 526-7208. www.cisco.comCisco Systems didn't exactly wow the industry with an innovative new WLAN architecture, but its Aironet 1200 raises the bar for mainstream enterprise-oriented smart wireless access points. With a beefy CPU and lots of memory, there's plenty of headroom to support today's broad feature set as well as future enhancements, including Cisco IOS. The Aironet 1200 sports a modular design, with an internal mini-PCI interface for an 802.11b radio and an expansion slot to accommodate an impressive 802.11a module that comes with an integrated directional patch antenna. The mini-PCI interface provides flexibility for field upgrades to 802.11g. It's clear that Cisco also put a lot of thought into deployment, including all the mundane details related to Power over Ethernet, plenum-rated housing, flexible device mounting and a range of antenna options.

Finalists:

• Orinoco AP-2000, Proxim Corp., (800) 229-1630, (408) 731-2700. www.proxim.com

• Symbol Wireless Switch, Symbol Technologies, (800) 927-9626, (631) 738-2400. www.symbol.com

Enterprise Mobile Computing Device

Winner: G100, Good Technology, (866) 7 BE GOOD, (408) 400-4800. www.good.com

Unlike PDAs that try to be all things to all people, Good Technology's G100 is an ultraportable mobile computing device that focuses on one task: enterprise wireless e-mail. OK, Good also provides PIM support for contact lists, tasks and calendaring, but wireless e-mail is

clearly the draw. The device is small, but not too small, and the interface is elegant. Unlike many competitive solutions that require the periodic use of a cradle to synchronize PIM info and e-mail, the G100, used in conjunction with the vendor's GoodLink service, provides real-time wireless sync with a Microsoft Exchange groupware system using Cingular's widely available and affordable Mobitex wireless service. Using 3DES encryption, the system is also secure. You can manage devices centrally, including deleting all content from lost or stolen devices. The G100 isn't the be-all and end-all mobile computing device, but for wireless e-mail in Exchange environments, it's awfully tough to beat.

Finalists:
• RIM Blackberry 5810, Research in Motion, (877) BLK-BERR, (519) 888-7465. www.blackberry.com

• Tungsten T, Palm, (800) 881-7256, (408) 503-7000. www.palm.com

Point-to-Point Wireless Bridge

Winner: Tsunami QuickBridge 60, Proxim Corp., (800) 229-1630, (408) 731-2700. www.proxim.com

Proxim's Tsunami QuickBridge 60 is a top-notch fixed point-to-point wireless system that lets you easily interconnect Ethernet LANs at distances up to 2.5 miles at T3 speeds. The QuickBridge also gets the nod as the Mobile and Wireless product of the year.

Finalists:
• Campus BridgeLINK-II-25P, RadioLAN, (877) 272-3465, (408) 365-6200. www.radiolan.com

• AWE 120-58 Ultima3 RD, Wi-LAN, (403) 273-9133. www.wi-lan.com

WLAN Management and Security System

Winner: SMC Networks EliteConnect WLAN Security System, SMC Networks, (800) SMC-4YOU, (949) 679-8000. www.smc.com

When we ask enterprise IT professionals to name the biggest obstacle to wireless LAN deployment, the answer is nearly unanimous: security. And while some organizations may be patient enough to wait for IEEE security standards, if you need to deploy a secure WLAN today, SMC provides a solid solution through its partnership with Vernier Networks. The EliteConnect combines the benefits of VPN technology with innovative roaming and management features that make WLANs more secure and easier to operate. This system sits in your wiring closet and attaches to virtually any wireless access point, providing authentication services, privacy and secure subnet roaming while letting you closely monitor your WLAN users' activities.

Finalists:
• WG-1000 Wireless Gateway, Bluesocket, (781) 328-0888. www.bluesocket.com

• NetMotion Mobility 3.50, now shipping 4.0, NetMotion Wireless, (206) 691-5500. www.netmotionwirleess.com• ReefEdge Connect System 2.06, ReefEdge, (201) 242-9700. www.reefedge.com

Cellular Wireless Data Service

Winner: Verizon Wireless Express Network, Verizon Wireless, (800) 2-JOIN-IN, (908) 306-7000. www.verizonwireless.com

Although high-speed, wide-area wireless services will be commonplace within five years, today's lower-speed solutions are more tactical in nature. For high speeds, you can tap into an increasing number of WLAN hotspots, but coverage is still quite limited. If you need wireless data access wherever you have cell-phone coverage, it's tough to do better than Verizon's Express Network, a 2.5G system based on the CDMA 2000 1XRTT protocol. Granted, we're only talking ISDN-class speeds, but for the right applications, including wireless e-mail and Web access, that's enough to get the job done. And unlike its competitors, Verizon is the only cellular provider that offers an unlimited monthly service plan. For those of us hungry for data on the run, it's a great solution.

Finalists:
• GSM/GPRS service from AT&T Wireless, AT&T Wireless, (800) 888-7600, (425) 580-6000. www.attwireless.com• Sprint PCS Vision, Sprint, (800) 480-4727. www.sprintpcs.com

Wireless LAN Analyzer

Winner: AirMagnet Handheld Wireless LAN Analyzer 2.5, AirMagnet, (888)-828-3772, (650) 694-6754. www.airmagnet.com

Organizations just starting out with wireless LANs are often impressed by how well WLANs work right out of the box. But as wireless networks grow, and as users sneak low-cost rogue wireless devices into the workplace, the potential for problems increases rapidly. Without good analysis tools, you're running blind. AirMagnet recognizes this need and has delivered a toolset that gets the job done. Although not as sophisticated as a true protocol analyzer, AirMagnet gives IT managers a high-level view of the health of their wireless networks, providing alerts and alarms for a range of performance and security problems. AirMagnet won't help you fire the guy who installed rogue wireless access or stop the war-driver trying to break into your network, but at least it will help you understand the problems they're causing.

Finalists:
• Yellowjacket WLAN test receiver 3, Berkeley Varitronics Systems, (732) 548-3737. www.bvsystems.com• Sniffer Technologies Sniffer Wireless 4.7, Network Associates, (972) 963-8000. www.sniffer.com

• AiroPeek NX 1.0, WildPackets, (800) 466-2447,(925) 937-3200. www.wildpackets.com

Dave Molta is a senior technology editor at Network Computing. He is also an assistant professor in the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University and director of the Center for Emerging Network Technologies. Molta's experience includes 15 years in IT and network management. Write to him at [email protected].

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Tsunami QuickBridge 60, Proxim Corp., (800) 229-1630, (408) 731-2700. www.proxim.com

Our Mobile and Wireless product of the year provides return on investment that will make even the most reluctant budget jockey take notice. Proxim's QuickBridge 60 delivers speeds comparable to T3 over distances up to 2.5 miles and is downright easy to install and manage. Operating in the unlicensed 5.8-GHz wireless band and priced at less than $5,000, QuickBridge lets you save on leased-line costs and pays for itself in as little as three months. It's especially appealing for links of less than a mile. Even in situations where installation costs are higher, you're talking sub-one-year ROI.It's also comforting that you don't have to risk dealing with a start-up to put this system in place. Like many established companies, Proxim has had its share of financial challenges over the past year, but this is a company with an established track record in the wireless market. Unlike more diversified competitors, Proxim's existence is predicated on delivering innovative and compelling wireless solutions. With QuickBridge, the company has certainly hit that target.Mobile & Wireless Links at NWC.com...

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... And Around the Internet

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