Wireless LAN Security

Atheros Wireless LAN, 5-GHz, 802.11a, Radio-on-a-Chip, WLAN,
Alliance. WPA-based security solutions upgrade the Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) technology in legacy wireless LAN products. Atheros ...


Broadcom Wireless LAN Solutions Certified for WPA
Broadcom Wireless LAN Solutions Certified for WPA Broadcom wireless LAN products
are ... interoperability with other products implementing the WPA security standard ...



Wireless LAN Security Workshop
... Wi-Fi Alliance announces Wi-Fi Protected Access to replace WEP (Oct '02) “WPA will
meet the ... NIST releases draft on Wireless Network Security (July '02 ...

Wireless LAN Wares On Tap From Nortel
InternetWeek Nortel WLAN ... has updated Windows XP's wireless security by adding support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). ...


Intel® Wireless Products
a wide range of industry wireless-LAN security standards and ... security capabilities
to support leading wireless security protocols (LEAP, TKIP, WPA). ...

Boeing Wireless LAN Security Architecture Design Proposal
Network Services named as sole wireless LAN provider WLANS ... barrier Wireless policy
established Wireless policy established ... Early Test Results of WPA Early Test ...




Interlink Networks
For Wireless LAN Security: Secure.XS » Software for controlling and
managing user access to 802.11 wireless LAN networks. Standards ...
An independent software vendor specializing in internet infrastructure products.
What is WPA? Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) is the new wireless LAN security standard
for 802.11 networks, announced in October 2002 by the Wi-Fi Alliance. ...

Email and Espresso a Popular Combo at Coffee Works


This just in.

Brand New Free Wi-Fi Hotspot in Chandler, Arizona.

For those of you with directories, please add this one. Debbie can give you
the details.

For those in the greater Phoenix Metro area, they are also using meetup.com
so you can plan online wireless events there.

I was at Coffee Works last week to meet some friends and the T1 was being
installed that day.

Debbie,

Be sure to add your web site to the Top Arizona Sites List at
http://www.topsitelists.com/bestsites/arizona/ and to the Worldwide Top
Wireless LAN Hotspot Sites List at
http://www.topsitelists.com/world/hotspots/

Bill Austin
Wireless LAN
http://www.wireless--lan.com/


----- Original Message -----
From:

Hi Bill:

We've got some awesome news for you!

Our Coffee Works wireless high-speed (WiFi) Internet
connection and equipment is now installed and operating for
your surfing and business pleasure.

Yes, it's WiFi on Ray! The HotSpot is in! And it's no
charge for VIP Club members.

You can send and receive email, surf the web, do FTP, build
web sites, whatever you do on the web, with a very few
restrictions. Oh yea, it's fast; really fast (a full
dedicated T-1 for you techies)!

Our system is fully automated and secure. When you arrive
at Coffee Works, let your Barista know you're going to need
'WiFi access'. They will prepare you a username and
password on a slip of paper. That's it!

Some ideas for you to take advantage of this great resource:

1. Make Coffee Works your "off site" meeting place and stay
connected to the Internet.

2. Perform your research for school or work while sipping
one of our smooth tasting espresso drinks.

3. If you have only a dial up Internet connection at home,
pick up an 802.11b WiFi adapter for your notebook PC (about
$50 at Circuit City) and use our WiFi HotSpot to meet your
broadband needs.

4. Get out of the office and stop at Coffee Works to get
caught up on your emails.

If you are not up to speed on what WiFi is about, how it
works, or whether or not you know how to connect to it, my
husband, Skip, will be hosting informal tutorials and
support at no charge on the next three Monday nights from
7:30pm to 9pm at Coffee Works.

Skip will be holding these sessions one-on-one, or in small
groups, depending on your needs.

If you need technical support for our WiFi HotSpot, contact
Skip at 480-570-7183.

One last thing: please tell your friends and colleagues by
forwarding this message to them. Coffee Works is one of the
first Chandler public businesses to offer WiFi and we want
to get the word out.

And don't worry: our WiFi HotSpot can handle over 300
concurrent users, which is more than our seating can hold.
So by helping to spread the word, you won't be taking away
from your high speed needs. :-)

Once again, thank you for your business. I look forward to
seeing you soon.

Regards,

Debbie

COLOR BROADBAND PROVIDES LONG BEACH AIRPORT WITH WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS
IN NEXT PHASE OF CITY'S INTEGRATED 'HOT ZONE' PROJECT

JetBlue Airways Joins City, Technology Consortium as Zone Expands

LONG BEACH, Calif. (June 12, 2003) - In partnership with JetBlue Airways
and the City of Long Beach, Color Broadband Inc., Southern California's
leading wireless broadband provider, today announced the launch of the
Long Beach Airport Wireless District, which provides airport visitors free
high-speed Internet access throughout the entire facility.

The Long Beach Airport WiFi "Hot Zone" is an extension of the public
wireless Internet service deployed on the Pine Street downtown shopping
district in January, with wireless access points provided by Intermec
Technologies, portal site design by G-site Web Design and Consulting, and
the server back-end by Vernier Networks.

The Long Beach Airport Wireless District now offers Color Broadband's
fiber stack service, or Hot Zone, free of charge, connecting Long Beach
Airport visitors to the Internet while offering local businesses new
marketing opportunities targeted to tourists and business travelers.

Wireless users will be directed to the Internet through
longbeachportals.com, the city's portal. The portal is designed to give
local businesses and organizations with a Web presence as well as an
opportunity to reach an audience that may be new to the area. The portal
incorporates a "real time" events calendar, which enables merchants and
organizations to list upcoming, events, sales, specials, entertainment or
other services. Users also have access to flight times from JetBlue and
other airlines, countrywide weather conditions and other travel
information. From the portal, users are then free to surf the Internet.

"This next phase of our pioneering Hot Zone project affirms and extends
the City of Long Beach's technology leadership in what has become a global
phenomenon," said Chet Yoshizaki, Manager, Long Beach Economic Development
Bureau. "The involvement of JetBlue, coupled with the service provided by
Color Broadband and all of the participating technology companies, is
further evidence of the city's catalytic role in creating a new
infrastructure for economic growth. The Long Beach Airport clearly plays
a key role in that growth, and will be a model for other communities
considering airport WiFi districts."'

"The country's fastest growing airport is now also among the best
connected," said Alex Wilcox, JetBlue's western customer service director.
"JetBlue and the City of Long Beach have together made Long Beach Airport
famous for friendly service and convenience. Today's announcement now
makes our historic 1932 terminal a leader in passenger technology,
providing all the airport's users with free, reliable, high-speed wireless
Internet connection."

The Long Beach Airport Wireless District is the newest stage in Color
Broadband's integrated wireless network, developed with the assistance of
the Long Beach Department of Public Works and the city's Economic
Development Bureau, as well as Intermec, G-site and Vernier. The City of
Long Beach plans to integrate a wireless Hot Zone that will eventually
cover the entire downtown Long Beach area, including the Long Beach
Convention Center and the Long Beach Marina.

"The secret to the success of the Long Beach Hot Zone is that it's truly a
zone, not a hot spot," said Fran McGrath, CEO, Color Broadband. "This is
integrated, not ad hoc, with the portal tying each new area together in a
strategic way. The point-to-multipoint access points utilized by the city
provide the perfect solution for the Airport Wireless district and the
city's other planned wireless hotspots. And JetBlue's participation is
important not only for the airport, but as a signal to other companies
that hot zones represent a bandwagon worth hopping aboard."

The initial wireless hotspot network provided a coverage area on Pine
Avenue beginning at Ocean Blvd. running north slightly beyond 4th Street.
Utilizing the 802.11b standard, this network enables anyone with a laptop
computer or PDA equipped with a compatible wireless card to access the
Internet or answer email while enjoying a meal or relaxing along Pine
Street.

ABOUT COLOR BROADBAND Based in Long Beach, Calif., Color Broadband is a
leading provider of business-class wireless broadband and integrated
networking solutions to governments and to the small and mid-size
enterprise. Color Broadband is dedicated to providing a reliable,
cost-effective alternative to traditional access technologies through its
point to multipoint networks, which function in the unlicensed bands and
are currently deployed in Southern California. Color Broadband also
provides information technology consultation and network provisioning.
As it pioneers its business model, Color Broadband will serve the
telecommunications needs of businesses throughout the Americas.





Frank Keeney

----------------------------------------------------------------
Pasadena Networks, LLC. http://pasadena.net
626-676-4761
Wireless equipment, support and solutions.
http://www.pasadena.net/shop/

Nokia Has Started Commercial Deliveries of the World's First Dual-Mode 3GPP Compliant GSM/WCDMA Mobile Phone Capable of Seamless Handovers
Friday June 13, 1:22 am ET
The Nokia 6650 phone is expected to become available in Europe, Asia and Japan as mobile operators roll out their 3G services


HELSINKI, Finland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 13, 2003-- Following the successful completion of the piloting and test program, Nokia has started shipments of the Nokia 6650 mobile phone to selected mobile operators and retailers in Europe and Asia, including Japan.
Operators will now be able to provide their customers with the Nokia 6650 as a standard GSM phone, a WCDMA phone or a dual-mode GSM/WCDMA phone, depending on their network architecture. The Nokia 6650 is the first mobile phone in the market capable of seamless hand-overs between GSM and WCDMA systems in a dual-mode network.

Consumers will be able to enjoy global roaming on all GSM900/1800 networks globally as well as on WCDMA networks in Japan and Europe. Those operators building WCDMA coverage to complement their existing GSM900/1800 coverage can now offer high data speed services of up to 384 kbps with WCDMA, while having the full coverage of the GSM900/1800 grid in a single terminal with proven dual system capabilities, tested for interoperability across the full range of functionality with the leading infrastructure vendors.

"The Nokia 6650 is a perfect companion for the traveling business professional, who needs both high-speed data services, such as the fast downloading of emails to his laptop and access to information services, as well as extensive roaming. For a Japanese user, the Nokia 6650 offers seamless roaming in Europe and Asia, and for a GSM user, seamless roaming in Japan," said Juha Putkiranta, Senior Vice President, Nokia Mobile Phones.

He adds:"I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who took part in our biggest ever field pilot and testing program, in which we have been successfully working out interoperability challenges and enhancing the phone's capabilities. Almost 20 000 Nokia 6650 phones were used in the pilot program. The commercial availability of the Nokia 6650 will open the road for the commercial 3G service experience."

The availability of services utilizing WCDMA technology is determined by individual operator plans. As a result, availability of the Nokia 6650 will vary by country and by operator. The first operator shipments of the Nokia 6650 commercial release will be delivered to J-Phone and mobilkom austria during June. Nokia expects that during the second half of 2003, approximately 20 operators worldwide will introduce WCDMA either as their main radio technology or as a complementary enhancement to their existing GSM network.

Consumers are already using a number of 3G services in current networks: multimedia messaging, various types of downloading, sending and receiving videos. While the underlying technology is transparent to the consumer, mobile phone users will see the benefits of WCDMA in faster and more convenient service delivery, and in the introduction and availability of new services, such as multitasking.

Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.

Press pictures of the Nokia 6650 phone can be obtained from www.nokia.com.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contact:
Nokia Mobile Phones
Communications
Tel. +358 71800 8000
nokia.mobile.phones@nokia.com
www.nokia.com

UPDATE - Standards group gives go-ahead to faster Wi-Fi
Thursday June 12, 2:45 pm ET


(Adds background, Texas Instruments statement)
NEW YORK, June 12 (Reuters) - An international technical body put its stamp of approval on Thursday to wireless Internet technology that can transmit data two to five times faster than existing short-range network gear known as "Wi-Fi."

The Institute of Electrical Electronics Engineers, a technology standards-setting body, said in a statement it had approved the news network standard, called 802.11g.

Ericsson and Philips sign license agreement for Bluetooth 1.2 solution
STOCKHOLM, Sweden--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2003--Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERICY) Technology Licensing announced today that they have signed a licensing agreement with Philips' semiconductor division.
The agreement states that Philips will license Ericsson's new Bluetooth baseband core, which implements the complete range of mandatory Bluetooth 1.2 features. A first pre-release has already been delivered.

With the Ericsson Core Bluetooth Baseband Platform Q-E1, Philips will be one of the first companies to offer their customers Bluetooth chips based on the Bluetooth 1.2 specification with, for example, better voice and audio quality and improved coexistence with other wireless technologies.

"Philips and Ericsson Technology Licensing are already partners, but this deal brings us one step closer to our mutual goal, bringing fully compliant Bluetooth 1.2 solutions to the market," says Maria Khorsand, President of Ericsson Technology Licensing. "Together, we want to make sure Bluetooth reaches the mass market."

Ericsson Technology Licensing and Philips' semiconductor division have been partners since 1999. This partnership has delivered the benefits of the stable foundation of technical expertise at Ericsson and Philips coupled with the high volume semiconductor production capability of Philips.

"Ericsson's new core has everything we want for our Bluetooth 1.2 solutions," says Paul Marino, Vice President and General Manager Business Line Connectivity at Philips Semiconductors. "Philips is committed to providing our customers with fully compliant Bluetooth 1.2 products based on proven core technology, enabling us to be among the first to launch products with these new features. The incorporation of the Bluetooth 1.2 technology is yet another step towards fulfilling our vision of the Connected Home."

Ericsson is shaping the future of Mobile and Broadband Internet communications through its continuous technology leadership. Providing innovative solutions in more than 140 countries, Ericsson is helping to create the most powerful communication companies in the world.

Read more at http://www.ericsson.com/press

About Ericsson Technology Licensing Ericsson Technology Licensing develops state-of-the-art Bluetooth design solutions optimized for mobile communication, computing and media devices. As a major driving force behind the Bluetooth initiative, we have been instrumental in the development of Bluetooth wireless technology from a simple idea into a widely acclaimed industry standard. Our complete portfolio of IP Cores for Bluetooth baseband and radio together with a complete Bluetooth software package, qualification services, training and design services provides semiconductor and original equipment manufacturers the fastest, most reliable course for implementing Bluetooth wireless technology in new products. More information: www.ericsson.com/bluetooth

About Royal Philips Electronics Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with sales of EUR 31.8 billion in 2002. It is a global leader in color television sets, lighting, electric shavers, medical diagnostic imaging and patient monitoring, and one-chip TV products. Its 170,000 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances, components, semiconductors, and medical systems. Philips is quoted on the NYSE (symbol: PHG), London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges. News from Philips is located at www.semiconductors.philips.com.


CONTACT: Ericsson Inc.
Kathy Egan, Corporate Communications
212/685-4030
Email: pressrelations@ericsson.com
or
Glenn Sapadin, Investor Relations
212/685-4030
Email: investor.relations@ericsson.com

Nextel, Motorola and Symbol Technologies Offer First Wireless Bar Code Scanner for Mobile Phones
RESTON, Va., PLANTATION, Fla. & HOLTSVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 11, 2003--
Scanning Attachment Works Seamlessly in Conjunction with Nextel's Wireless Packet Data Network

Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL), Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) and Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL) today announced the availability of the first bar code scanner attachment for mobile phones. The Symbol PSM20i allows mobile workers to use their phones to collect information wirelessly and in real time. This solution combines the accuracy and reliability in laser-based bar code scanning with the extensive voice, data and application capabilities of Nextel's Java(TM) technology-enabled phones from Motorola. Transformed by Nextel's wireless data network into a robust tool for mobile connectivity, the Symbol PSM20i bar code scanner attachment provides workers with the information and business support systems they need to operate efficiently.

The bar code scanning attachment works seamlessly in conjunction with Nextel's wireless data service to provide field sales and service personnel with access to and transmission of critical information at their point of activity. In addition, it helps to reduce data entry errors and enables integrated applications for specific industry or business use such as asset management, mobile pick-up and delivery tracking, inventory fulfillment, sales force automation, and supply chain and inventory management.

The compact, one-ounce Symbol PSM20i bar code scanning attachment clips directly onto select Motorola iDEN(R) phones for Nextel, including the i88s and the i58sr--two handsets with on-board assisted global positioning system (AGPS) capabilities. When the bar code scanner is attached, Nextel customers simply use the Direct Connect(TM) Push-To-Talk(TM) button, located on the side of every Nextel handset from Motorola, to initiate an instant scan.

"The Symbol PSM20i is less bulky than traditional bar code scanners, as well as being fully integrated into our Java and iDEN platforms," said Ernie Cormier, vice president, Business Solutions, Nextel. "Thousands of applications have been deployed across multiple industries. With the Symbol PSM20i, we are mobilizing those applications to enable real-time information delivery, accelerating return on investment, reducing costs, and delivering real value to our customers."

This multi-vendor solution is a powerful example of Nextel's Wireless Business Solutions (WBS) initiative, which combines applications, services, tools and the support companies need to achieve high performance by delivering real-time information to mobile decision makers at any location, enabling quick response among workers in the field and streamlining operations through faster exchange of information.

"Symbol's bar code technology solution complements our strategy to provide value-added products that help to improve productivity and profitability for businesses, and that easily integrate into a worker's environment," said Peter Aloumanis, vice president and general manager, US Markets Division, Motorola's iDEN Subscriber Group.

By using the Symbol PSM20i bar code scanning attachment, a Motorola iDEN phone becomes the ultimate mobility tool. In a typical scenario, a service worker uses the scanner-enabled phone to immediately scan the bar code on a needed part, accesses the cellular network, uses the phone's Java technology-based application to identify a local depot with that part in stock, hits the dial key to call the parts manager at the depot, and arranges for quick courier delivery.

"The addition of high performance, laser-based bar code scanning to Motorola's mobile phone platforms enables a broader array of businesses to enjoy the productivity improvements possible with automated data capture technology," said Bob Sanders, vice president and general manager, Symbol Technologies Scanner Products Division. "Providing mobility solutions for mission-critical applications is Symbol's forte, as demonstrated by the key piece we are providing to this new solution."

PSM20i users may utilize third party or internally developed application software to enable the functionality of the bar code scanner. For example, AirClic, a Web-based software and services platform company, can provide the software, client/server development platform, and/or application hosting that allow for rapid deployment of mobile bar code scanning applications. Applications for the product may include package tracking, time and activity management, and parts and work ordering by field service personnel.

The Symbol PSM20i bar code scanner is available for $249. For more information about service plans and pricing visit www.symbol.com/iden.

About Nextel

Nextel Communications, a Fortune 300 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Nextel and Nextel Partners Inc., currently serve 198 of the top 200 U.S. markets. Through recent market launches, Nextel and Nextel Partners service is available today in areas of the U.S. where approximately 240 million people live or work.

About Symbol

Symbol Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SBL), founded in 1975, is a global leader in secure mobile information systems that integrate application-specific handheld computers with wireless networks for data and voice and bar code data capture. Symbol products and services increase productivity and reduce costs for the world's leading retailers, logistics and transportation companies, government agencies, manufacturers and providers of healthcare, hospitality and security.

About Motorola and iDEN

Motorola, Inc. is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2002 were $27.3 billion. Motorola is a global corporate citizen dedicated to ethical business practices and pioneering important technologies that make things smarter and life better for people, honored traditions that began when the company was founded 75 years ago this year. For more information, please visit: www.motorola.com.

iDEN handsets combine the capabilities of a digital wireless phone with "always on" Internet access, text pager, and two-way radio to enable users to instantly communicate with one or hundreds of individuals at the push of a button. For further information on iDEN handsets, visit www.motorola.com/iden.


CONTACT: Nextel Communications
Roni M. Singleton, 703/433-3109
roni.singleton@nextel.com
or
Motorola
Lea Faso, 954/723-6333
lea.faso@motorola.com
or
Symbol Technologies
Patricia Hall, 631/738-5636
hallp@symbol.com

Motorola Testifies Before House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and The Internet
Wednesday June 11, 3:33 pm ET
Spectrum, Funding and Interoperability Key for Public Safety Communications


WASHINGTON, June 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Speaking before the US House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications & the Internet, Greg Brown, President and CEO, Motorola (NYSE: MOT - News) Commercial Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS), said today Congress must act to deliver much needed spectrum and additional funding to enable first responders to have full interoperability and improved wireless communications to carry out their critical mission.
Today, Brown testified along with public safety and government officials and communications leaders in an effort to emphasize the vital communications needs of America's public safety community.

According to Brown, "While technology exists to improve the quality of wireless communications, public safety lacks the spectrum and funds to improve communication as rapidly and completely as the public expects in a post-9-11 world."

Brown commended Subcommittee Chairman Fred Upton for making public safety communications a national priority.

"Motorola looks forward to working with Chairman Upton and the committee to ensure that the necessary spectrum, funding and full interoperability tools are in place so that our nation's heroic first responders can be better prepared to carry out their critical mission. We owe them these needed resources."

Brown testified that public safety first needs additional federal funding to buy the radios and systems necessary to do its job, including improved interoperability. Secondly, he said, public safety must have access to its 700MHz spectrum nationwide by December 2006 to fully achieve interoperability and deploy advanced data technology.

"Motorola supports the efforts of Congresswoman Jane Harman, and Congressman Curt Weldon to work with the leadership of Chairman Billy Tauzin and Ranking Member John Dingell to drive a solution to the digital television transition which will clear the way for the 700 MHz band to be usable by public safety agencies by the end of 2006," Brown said. "Without setting a firm deadline, our nations first responders are left in limbo and our citizens could be left less protected," he added.

The 700 MHz technologies offer a whole new level of mobile communications capabilities, which is far beyond today's voice and low speed data applications. Brown cited examples of advanced high-speed data applications:

-- An officer or agent could transmit video of a potential bomb or
biological weapon and get real time counsel from an expert in another
location.
-- Local or state police could instantly send or receive a photograph of a
missing or abducted child.
-- Firefighters in the field could instantly access online building blue
prints, hydrant locations and hazardous material data.


"Additionally, a sustained, well funded and multi-year federal program is needed. We certainly cannot afford the human costs associated with delaying achievement of full interoperability," Brown said.

Reflecting on the nation's homeland security responsibilities, Brown urged that Congress ensure that public safety officials can buy the communications tools they need to protect the American public.

"It is important that the Congress assume and accept this critical mission," Brown said.

About Motorola

Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT - News) is a global leader in wireless, automotive and broadband communications. Sales in 2002 were $27.3 billion. Motorola is a global corporate citizen dedicated to ethical business practices and pioneering important innovations that make things smarter and life better, honored traditions that began when the company was founded 75 years ago this year. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com .

Motorola Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) Motorola's Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector (CGISS) is a leading provider of integrated radio communications and information solutions, with more than 65 years of experience in meeting the mission-critical requirements of public safety, government and enterprise customers worldwide. The sector offers an extensive portfolio of solutions to meet growing public safety and security needs, including: interoperable two-way radio communications solutions; command and control solutions; identification and tracking solutions; information management for criminal justice and civil needs; and physical security and monitoring solutions. In 2002, CGISS received the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for manufacturing, the national premier award for performance excellence and quality achievement.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Motorola, Inc.

BW5039 JUN 09,2003 5:30 PACIFIC 08:30 EASTERN


( BW)(MA-PROPAGATE-NETWORKS) Propagate Networks Announces Industry's First Self-Organizing WLAN Control Software; Company founded in 2002 by proven industry leaders

ACTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 9, 2003--Propagate Networks, Inc., an innovative start-up founded by seasoned industry visionaries, today announced its breakthrough software that supplies the industry with the first self-organizing, self-optimizing wireless local area network (WLAN) - slashing costs and dramatically increasing performance for local wireless communications.
Propagate's AutoCell(TM) software is a continuously running embedded control system for wireless access points (APs) and clients (laptops, PDAs, and phones). Residing in the firmware of APs and Wi-Fi client adapters, Propagate's AutoCell software automatically controls the complete RF (radio frequency) environment without the need for management intervention.
"If wired Ethernet switches worked the way 802.11 APs do today, IT would need to reconfigure the network every time they installed another switch," Gary Vacon, Propagate's co-founder and CEO said. "Customers need to be able to install wireless APs without having to worry about channel maps, or site surveys, or RF interference. With AutoCell, if you want better performance, you just add another AP, and the network automatically adjusts in real-time. This will save a lot of money for IT organizations."
Propagate Networks' software is a completely automatic system to control 802.11 environments. Embedding AutoCell software in every 802.11 device, the system requires no user interaction, increases bandwidth dynamically, enhances security, and reduces installation and maintenance costs for corporate IT managers.
Propagate Networks will distribute its product primarily through high-profile partners, such as Netgear, Inc. and Atheros, Inc.
"Many of our customers are looking for a way to easily and cost effectively expand their 802.11 networks," said Patrick Lo, CEO of Netgear, Inc. "Propagate's AutoCell is designed to let people put access points wherever they want, in whatever density. Customers want wireless bandwidth everywhere. But it's got to be all automatic...all the time."
"We are pleased that Propagate chose Atheros as its first wireless chipset partner," said Craig Barratt, president and chief executive officer of Atheros Communications. "Technologies that simplify WLAN deployment are in high demand. Our chips deliver the highest performance and broadest functionality of any available solution, and Propagate's unique self-optimizing approach reduces the costs of building out WLAN networks. The combination results in a best-in-class WLAN that is very inexpensive to manage."
Propagate is led by a team of highly respected networking experts, including Vacon, who previously co-founded NetICs Corp. and served as general manager of the switching and routing divisions at Bay Networks. Floyd Backes, Propagate's co-founder and chief technology officer, was formerly chief technology officer for 3Com's switching division. Propagate's co-founder and vice president of marketing and business development, Paul Callahan, was vice president of strategic investments at Nortel Networks and group director of IT research at Forrester Research.
In addition to Vacon and Callahan, Propagate's board of directors also includes Albert A. Holman III, founder and managing partner of Chestnut Partners, Inc., and Larry Walker, former vice president and general manager of Motorola's Network and Computing Systems Group.
"The next major challenge for the WLAN industry is effectively managing the organic growth of WLAN clients. Currently, site survey, frequency allocation, and AP power management, all largely require manual approaches. Automating or reducing the need to perform these tasks, leads to a major reductions in the cost of WLAN ownership," said John Morency, president of Momenta Research, Inc., who recently produced the industry's first cost of ownerships study for WLAN implementations.
Propagate's AutoCell software uses extremely efficient control traffic to continuously load-balance and adjust both APs and clients as the network reconfigures based on changing load and user movement. AutoCell's embedded software has a small footprint, is computationally efficient, and can be added to reference designs with little impact on development costs.

Pricing and Availability:

Propagate's AutoCell software is available immediately for evaluation by manufacturing partners only. AutoCell will be available in many high-profile OEM products in the fall of this year. Propagate is working with its partners on licensing agreements. No standard pricing is available today.

About Propagate:

Propagate Networks, Inc. (www.propagatenet.com), headquartered in Acton, Massachusetts, was founded in October 2002 to automate and increase the performance of 802.11 wireless local area network (WLAN) equipment. Based on patent-pending technology, Propagate's technology will significantly boost the throughput and decrease the cost of 802.11 solutions by creating a distributed, self-organizing network. Propagate Networks is led by a team of seasoned network professionals and entrepreneurs and is funded by a group of private investors.


--30--KC/bo*

CONTACT: Stauch Vetromile & Mitchell Public Relations
Rebecca Hovey or Joyce Radnor, 401/438-0614
rebecca@svmpr.com or jradnor@svmpr.com

KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOFTWARE NETWORKING
COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS
SOURCE: Propagate Networks, Inc.