ROCHESTER HILLS, Michigan – September 2005 – Azure Wireless announced the completion of successful customer testing and approval of the enhanced Universal Wireless Gateway. The enhanced Gateway is the world’s first multi-mode 802.11a, b and g wireless client device to include integrated serial and Ethernet interfaces, integrated security and diversity antenna systems for enhanced performance in challenging environments.
Providing standards-based wireless network connectivity at rates as high as 54 Mbps, the enhanced Universal Wi-Fi Gateway extends 802.11a, b or g wireless network connectivity to Ethernet devices that are not equipped with wireless network client adapters and serial-to-wireless Ethernet conversion for legacy serial devices, such as PLCs, serial terminals, data collection devices, printers, plotters, surveillance cameras, control panels and human machine interfaces.
The Gateway allows enterprises to leverage wireless network investments and benefit from the flexibility of wireless networking with devices and equipment that were previously excluded from incorporation into the wireless network.Supporting all three 802.11 wireless standards for comprehensive coverage, investment protection and compatibility, the Gateway allows enterprises to segregate client connections to specific wireless networks and is capable of supporting 16 network devices when paired with a hub or switch. The enhanced Gateway also provides the highest level of wireless network security, supporting WPA, 128 bit AES and 802.1x authentication with PEAP and EAP-TTLS protocols, as well as 64, 128 and 152 bit WEP for legacy networks.
The Gateway also maintains wireless network security with unintelligent devices that are incapable of loading client security software. Web browser and SNMP support enables remote management and integration of the Gateway with enterprise management tools“We are very excited with the results of the first customer tests of the enhanced Gateway and expect initial orders very shortly. This solution provides an unparalleled level of flexibility and performance to clients who want to leverage their wireless network investment, reduce capital expenditures for communications infrastructure and use it to achieve network connectivity with virtually all types of computing, control, interface, video, printing and data collection devices.
The enhanced Gateway is versatile, cost-effective and unique; never before has a client device been available that provides multi-mode wireless, integrated serial and Ethernet interfaces, diversity antenna systems and integrated security meeting the most stringent standards,” said John Polakowski, president of Azure Wireless.Originally developed in response to client needs to communicate with and collect data from remote machines, systems and PLCs in manufacturing environments, the enhanced Universal Wi-Fi Gateway can be configured to meet virtually any enterprise’s requirements for cost-effective, flexible communications without the need for expensive and inflexible wiring.
“We have a growing number of clients to whom we have been delivering solutions that provide wireless network connectivity with a variety of devices which are not easily connected to a wireless LAN. There are many non-wireless Ethernet and legacy serial devices to which our clients have expressed an interest in being able to connect over standards-based 802.11 wireless networks.
Not only do our clients benefit from the flexibility of a wireless network with the Universal Wi-Fi Gateway, they leverage existing wireless network investments and realize investment protection because they do not have to change out their serial devices in order to begin converting their communications to Ethernet and allow them to utilize the same devices when the do upgrade legacy serial devices to Ethernet,” continued Polakowski.
About Azure Wireless
Azure Wireless provides its clients and channel partners with innovative mobile computing and wireless networking solutions that produce productivity increases, efficiency gains and operating expense reductions through untethered connectivity. For more information, please visit www.azuresol.com or call 248-651-8210.
