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Aruba Networks Extends Mobile Edge Portfolio
TMCnet VoIP Minute Watch Columnist
Sunnyvale, CA-based Aruba Networks introduced on Monday the Aruba 200 Mobility Controller and
Aruba Mobility Management System. The products are designed for deployments consisting of a number of modestly-sized, dispersed WLANs securely interconnected and managed from a central operations center. The Aruba 200 provides integrated mobility, security and convergence services for both wired and wireless users, and the Aruba Mobility Management System offers system-wide visibility of not only wireless network infrastructure and devices, but also individual users.
Aruba's new mobile edge products address wireless, intrusion prevention, site-to-site VPNs, identity-based management, voice, boxes, provisioning challenges, and management troubles. The Aruba 200 simplifies branch deployments with integrated services and automatic configuration, while the Mobility Management System provides a centralized management view of a confederation of branch offices.
In addition to branch offices, the Aruba 200 and Mobility Management System are suited for use in retail store deployments. These applications include mobile point-of-sale with secure credit card transactions, inventory management in warehouses and retail spaces, information kiosks, pricing and auditing, guest Internet access, Voice over WLAN (VoWLAN), streaming video, and RFID asset tracking.
The Aruba 200 Mobility Controller and Mobility Management System represent an extension to Aruba's Mobile Edge architecture, which delivers user mobility across the LAN, WAN, and Internet; unified security for wired, wireless, and remote access; voice support; and investment protection for the existing infrastructure.
With two ports supporting up to six APs and 100 simultaneous users, the Aruba 200 is built on the same advanced architecture as Aruba's other mobility controllers, with a built-in policy enforcement firewall and support for the suite of ArubaOS mobility software. The Aruba 200 can serve as a single integrated appliance for identity-based security, role-based access control, endpoint integrity enforcement, and safe guest-user access.
"The retail industry is increasingly turning to technology for both top-and bottom-line improvements in their business, rolling out applications for inventory management, marketing, customer service and more. However, the foundation for all of these applications needs to be a solid, secure networking infrastructure. Until today, retail had nowhere to turn for wireless networking that met its requirements," stated Don LeBeau, Aruba's president and CEO. "Aruba's new Mobile Edge solutions for retail and branch
offices provide all of the elements necessary for an expansive wireless enterprise network-feature-rich intelligent controllers, high-quality, low cost APs, and an overarching management system that delivers centralized control over hundreds of WLANs."
The Aruba 200 Mobility Controller is currently available starting at $1,750 U.S. list price. The Mobility
Management System is currently available starting at $3,995 U.S. list price.
The companies' ambitious project will be deployed in 277 buildings covering more than 17 million square feet. The deal asks for Microsoft new WLAN be constructed using Aruba's mobility controllers, mobility software and some 5,000 ultra-thin Aruba wireless access points.
"Microsoft is the ultimate enterprise, looking for a better way to secure, manage and scale their wireless environment. They found what they were looking for in Aruba," said Don LeBeau, president and CEO of Aruba Networks. "Our ability to uniquely tie security, mobility and user management together in one place makes us the ideal choice for large companies, like Microsoft, looking to easily enable mobility across their business."
Aruba Networks, Inc.
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Johanne Torres is contributing editor for TMCnet and Internet Telephony magazine. To see more articles by Johanne Torres, please visit Johanne Torres' columnist page
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