Cisco has added a 3G wireless connectivity option to its integrated services router, enabling service providers to offer 3G wireless connectivity to enterprise branch office customers demanding the highest-availability for their WANs. Four leading mobile network operators — AT&T, Sprint, Telefónica Móviles España and Verizon Wireless — have trialed Cisco’s new 3G Wireless WAN High-Speed Interface Card (HWIC) solution for their enterprise customers. Separate cards are available for GSM and CDMA.
Cisco also announced new capabilities that enable the delivery of business applications over wired or wireless infrastructures, or when transitioning between the two. The new Cisco Wireless LAN Controller Module (WLCM) scales the number of access points supported on the router and can centrally manage eight or 12 access points. It enables secure WLAN coverage, service consistency and mobility over a larger office space, as well as enhanced security, voice, guest access, and location services. Supporting a larger number of access points also increases operational efficiency and simplifies IT management in remote sites. Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) is enabled by the integrated WLCM, which enables voice security and continuity across the entire business space. Latency issues that are typical to VoWLAN deployments are reduced by the supported survivable local authentication access protocol (LEAP) on the WLCM.
The Cisco 3G Wireless WAN HWIC solution is scheduled to be available starting in summer 2007 and has a U.S. list price of $850. The new Cisco Wireless LAN Controller that scales to eight or 12 access points is scheduled to be available starting May 2007 and has U.S. list prices of $4,750 for eight access points and $6,500 for 12 access points. The Nokia Intellisync VoWLAN client for the Nokia E-series phones is scheduled to be available from Cisco beginning in May 2007 and will have a list price of $200.
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