Motorola Launches Advanced Predictive 802.11n Planning Tool Suite
Easy-to-Use 11n Network Migration Wizard Enables Organizations to Transition to a Highly Resilient and Secure All-Wireless Enterprise
SAN JOSE, Calif. – 21 July 2008 – The Enterprise Mobility business of Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) today announced the most robust 802.11n planning tools featuring predictive networking capabilities—Motorola’s 11n LANPlanner. The award-winning software suite – now in its 11th edition – has been enhanced to simulate the performance of 802.11n products like Motorola’s AP-7131, the industry’s first tri-radio 802.11n access point (AP).
The new generation of WLAN technology – 11n – is widely considered as a key enabler for enterprises to transition from wired networking to an all-wireless enterprise. However, as enterprises start to deploy 11n technology in their network, they face several challenges not previously encountered with legacy standards. The new LANPlanner migration wizard provides predictive RF modeling for the AP-7131 and other 11n access points, which is essential for taking the guesswork out of WLAN design and development for enterprises deploying homogeneous or mixed 11n networks. In addition, customers deploying intrusion prevention systems will be able to predict sensor coverage for the AP-7131’s built-in sensor radio for secure 802.11n deployments.
LANPlanner is one of the industry’s most widely used and comprehensive predictive design and verification suites for enterprise wireless LANs (WLANs). A majority of enterprise WLAN planning tools require physical site surveys to develop a detailed performance map, which takes significantly more time and resources to complete.
Motorola’s approach allows network managers to plan the wireless network from their own office by importing the AutoCAD drawings of their building, answering a few questions and letting Motorola’s patented LANPlanner suite analyze and predict the performance. Once the 11n network is installed a network manager can then leverage LANPlanner’s site survey capabilities to measure network performance and detect issues that may impact the wireless user experience such as changes to the building environment or wireless access points (APs) that support more employees than originally planned.
“Motorola’s LANPlanner is an exceptional product with its unique ability to do true 3D predictive modelling, providing the ability to intelligently plan and deploy an enterprise-class wireless network with minimized onsite support,” said Mark McGregor, managing director of CBO Australia. “We use LANPlanner as an integral part of our design plans for our customers and have found that by using the suite’s predictive capability we can cut our resource requirements in half when planning an enterprise WLAN in a high-rise building.”
From a recent enterprise WLAN survey commissioned by Motorola, four out of 10 respondents said they are planning to deploy 11n technology by February 2009.[1] With growing interest in 11n technology, enterprises face several new challenges. For example, 11n products utilize two or more spatial streams instead of one – Multiple Input/Multiple Output (MIMO). This inclusion of MIMO technology means that 11n performance is enhanced by multipath whereas legacy devices typically faced a performance loss in the presence of multipath. These unique factors combined with enterprises’ wireless network requirements should be taken into consideration during the initial planning stage of an 11n deployment.
Motorola has added new capabilities to LANPlanner, including an advanced network migration wizard that addresses the three most popular 11n deployment scenarios. The new building/new deployment scenario provides predicted performance based on installing 11n network in a clean slate environment. The “rip and replace” deployment scenario provides predicted performance based on replacing legacy APs with new 11n APs in an existing enterprise WLAN. The mixed deployment scenario provides predicted performance of mixed 11n and legacy networks in the same environment. This is the typical deployment scenario for enterprises that are rolling-out 11n in stages.
“Motorola’s 11n LANPlanner delivers site-specific predictive capability for 11n,” said Sujai Hajela, vice president and general manager of Enterprise WLAN, Motorola Enterprise Mobility business. “Competing solutions do not predict site-specific performance, requiring actual survey measurements in the environment. In most cases enterprises are spread out across multiple buildings as well as geographic locations, 11n LANPlanner intelligently predicts site-specific performance prior to deploying the first 11n-based AP, which saves the IT department time and resources.”
Motorola’s 11n LANPlanner will be available in the third quarter of 2008.
About Motorola
Motorola is known around the world for innovation in communications. The company develops technologies, products and services that make mobile experiences possible. Our portfolio includes communications infrastructure, enterprise mobility solutions, digital set-tops, cable modems, mobile devices and Bluetooth accessories. Motorola is committed to delivering next generation communication solutions to people, businesses and governments. A Fortune 100 company with global presence and impact, Motorola had sales of US $36.6 billion in 2007. For more information about our company, our people and our innovations, please visit http://www.motorola.com.
AT&T U-verse Voice Launches in Indianapolis
Next-Generation Voice Service Offers Convenient Integrated Wired and Wireless Features, Reliable Call Quality
Indianapolis, Indiana, July 17, 2008
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) today announced the availability of AT&T U-verseSM Voice in parts of the Indianapolis area, bringing consumers a next-generation digital voice service delivered over the AT&T U-verse Internet Protocol (IP) network. U-verse Voice brings together your AT&T home phone, wireless, broadband and TV services — all on one bill — with unique features that provide a new level of integration, convenience and control.
AT&T U-verse Voice completes the company’s IP triple play and is available to all new and existing U-verse TV customers in the Indianapolis, Bloomington, Muncie and Anderson areas. With U-verse Voice, customers receive new features that highlight the benefits of having advanced video, broadband, wireless and home phone services from a single provider.
“AT&T U-verse Voice is one more way we’re making all of our AT&T services work together for our customers and connecting them to their world,” said Bob Nixon, AT&T general manager for Indiana and Michigan. “U-verse Voice uses the power of IP to enhance the calling experience. Just like U-verse TV has changed the way people watch television, U-verse Voice will change the way people use their home phone.”
AT&T U-verse Voice is a managed IP-based service that is delivered over AT&T’s fiber-rich network, unlike many Voice over IP (VoIP) providers that offer best-effort digital phone services over the public Internet. This allows U-verse Voice customers to enjoy great sound quality and reliability, as well as unmatched calling features that combine with your AT&T U-verse TV, broadband and wireless services from AT&T.
“When we passed the telecom and video reform bill, we knew that consumers would benefit from new competitive choices for voice and video services,” said state Rep. Mike Murphy. “This launch is another great example of how consumers win in a competitive market.”
“Our deployment of U-verse Voice is an integral part of the planned $300 million in investment that AT&T has delivered in Indiana as a result of progressive reform legislation,” said George S. Fleetwood, president, AT&T Indiana. “Gov. Daniels and the members of the Indiana General Assembly should be applauded for their vision.”
AT&T U-verse Voice has advanced features that go beyond traditional phone service and many competitors’ offerings, including:
- Combined AT&T U-verse Voice and AT&T wireless voice mail with U-verse Messaging, which provides a single voice mailbox that can be accessed from any phone line or PC.
- U-verse Central, an online management portal that gives you the option to easily and conveniently manage your call preferences, voice mail, contacts, call history and more from any PC, in addition to the ability to control call preferences from your home phone.
- An online voice mailbox to check, manage and forward voice mail from the online portal, much like an e-mail inbox.
- Call History, which enables you to view your most recent incoming and outgoing calls online or to view your most recent incoming calls on your AT&T U-verse TV screen.
- Click to Call, which will initiate a call from your home phone to any number in your Call History with one click of a mouse or the U-verse TV remote control.
- An online Address Book that is accessible from any PC and allows you to Click to Call from your home phone, to create and share contact groups with other U-verse Voice customers or to set up distribution lists for voice messages.
- Locate Me, a feature that provides simultaneous ringing on up to four wireless or landline numbers so that you never miss an important incoming call.
- Traditional calling features, such as Call Screening, Call Blocking, Do Not Disturb and privacy settings.
All U-verse Voice customers will have 911 service. Where available via the local 911 network, U-verse Voice customers will have Enhanced 911 (E911) service.
U-verse TV customers can choose from two flexible U-verse Voice calling plans:
- U-verse Voice Unlimited, which includes unlimited local and nationwide minutes to any location in the U.S., Canada or U.S. territories for $40 a month.
- U-verse Voice 1000, which includes 1,000 Call Anywhere minutes to any location in the U.S. or U.S. territories for $30 a month.
A second phone line, which shares the primary line’s calling plan, can be added for $20 a month, and each plan features competitive international rates with no recurring monthly charge. Professional installation is included for new AT&T U-verse customers who order U-verse TV and Voice.
AT&T’s wireless customers who subscribe to an AT&T UnitySM plan can call any AT&T U-verse Voice number from their mobile phone as part of the nation’s largest free calling community without using any wireless Anytime Minutes.
For additional information on AT&T U-verse, visit uverse.att.com.
Published by admin on July 20th, 2008 | Filed under News | Comment now »AT&T Named 2008 North America Company of the Year by Frost & Sullivan
AT&T Recognized for Leadership in Converged Communications for Consumers and Enterprise Businesses
Dallas, Texas, July 16, 2008
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) announced today that the global growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan has presented AT&T with the 2008 North America Company of the Year award for its technological leadership, commitment to customers, strategic direction and overall financial performance as the largest North American telecommunications service provider in North America.
“As competition continues to get stronger in the North American telecommunications market, AT&T has continued to take the steps needed to stay ahead of its competition,” noted Todd Day, analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “The company has managed to grow virtually every aspect of its business while continuing to invest in technology and products for future years. For its strategic approach to next-generation products and services, customer support and overall company performance throughout the last year, Frost & Sullivan recognizes AT&T with this award.”
“This industry recognition reinforces our commitment to providing the highest-quality products and services to consumers and enterprise businesses throughout the world, while also focusing our efforts on driving mobile convergence applications,” said Bill Archer, chief marketing officer, AT&T Business. “In addition, we’re pleased to see Frost & Sullivan’s acknowledgement of our leadership in working with global businesses, growth in wireless and solid financials.”
The Frost & Sullivan 2008 North America Company of the Year award is presented each year to the company that has demonstrated unparalleled excellence within its industry. The award is based on numerous factors including the company’s business development, competitive strategy, customer satisfaction and leadership within a particular Frost & Sullivan Industry Research Group (IRG). To select the award recipient, analysts quantify several market factors for each market participant according to predetermined criteria, paying close attention to its combined operations efforts. This process includes interviews with all the market participants, customers and suppliers, along with extensive secondary and technology research.
Published by admin on July 20th, 2008 | Filed under News | Comment now »
