Thursday, 31 August 2006

HP, Cisco Partner to Deliver Indoor Enterprise WLAN Apps

HP and Cisco Systems have announced a joint effort focused on helping enterprise customers take advantage of a wide array of new applications and services based on Cisco's Pervasive Indoor Wireless technology.

The services will also facilitate of a variety of new applications such as IT asset tracking, presence-based applications, dual-mode voice and integrated intrusion detection and prevention.

"With an effort of this type, Cisco and HP are taking direct aim at the top concerns enterprises have with deploying and expanding wireless LANs - including continued strong discomfort around security, cost, and technology integration," says Jeanine M. Sterling, vice president/InfoTrack for Enterprise Mobility at TelecomWeb's sister division InfoTech. "Neutralizing these concerns opens up the enterprise to a wide array of high-interest applications, with dual-mode telephony and location-based services high on the list."

According to a press release, HP will offer systems integration services for Cisco’s Unified Wireless Network Family, including the Cisco Catalyst 3750G Integrated Wireless LAN Controller and the Cisco Unified Wireless Network Software Release 4.0.

"Our strategy has been to deliver a Unified Wireless Network architecture that features hardware, software and services integrated to deliver network scale, simplify deployment and drive down total cost of ownership," adds Brett Galloway, vice president and general manager of Cisco's Wireless Networking Business Unit.

"HP and Cisco designed and implemented our new, wireless campus and we are enjoying added flexibility and vast improvements to our operating efficiency," said Yvon Fontaine, president, Universite de Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. "Deploying new applications and services as a result of the new wireless network has brought us greater benefits. Our new Voice over IP application has cut costs and enabled us to provide increased service to our staff and students. For example, now staff members don't have to travel four hours for meetings at other campuses or incur expensive long-distance charges for conference calls. What was most surprising was that it all came together in just four weeks without any disruption in service."