Cisco Moves On Enterprise, Consumer WLANs

Cisco Systems Friday announced both the availability of a high-end WLAN controller for enterprises and the acquisition of a small company that will enable it to introduce entertainment applications for consumers.

The company said in a statement that its new 4400 Series Wireless Local Area Network Controller is aimed at large WLAN deployments and can support as many as 100 access points. The company said that the new controller shares the same radio frequency management, intrusion protection and quality of service capabilities of its other WLAN controllers.

The 4402 version of the controller has two gigabit Ethernet ports and supports as many as 50 lightweight access points and the 4404 model has four gigabit Ethernet ports and supports as many as 100 access points.

Separately, the company announced it is acquiring Denmark-based KiSS Technology A/S, a provider of networked entertainment devices such as DVD players and recorders. The company will become part of Cisco's Linksys division. The company's technology enables access content either over the Internet or via other devices on a home network.

"As more and more entertainment content is delivered over the Internet and as consumers demand access to digital entertainment inside and outside of their home networks, networked entertainment devices will become an integral part of Consumer Electronics," Charles Giancarlo, president of Linksys, said in a statement.Cisco said the acquisition was valued at about $61 million in cash.