Zyxel Announces Cloud-Managed Access Points

Zyxel Communications, a provider of secure broadband networking, Internet connectivity and routing products, announced the availability of its cloud-enabled access point, NWA1100N-CE, and a promotion with PC Connection. Customers who purchase a three-year cloud-management service for $299 at PC Connection will receive the NWA1100N-CE at no additional cost.

The NWA1100N-CE offers the dual-management option of being controlled either via local user interface or remotely through cloud services. Zyxel also offers all NWA1100N-CE customers a free one-month trial of the cloud-management service.

The NWA1100N-CE leverages PowerCloud Systems' CloudCommand technology. Designed to meet the needs of the small to medium-size business (SMB) market, CloudCommand delivers cloud capabilities to networking devices and provides the NWA1100N-CE with management functionality.

"The NWA1100N-CE provides SMBs with the perfect blend of business-class wireless hardware with the convenience of cloud-management capabilities," said Steven Joe, executive vice president of channel business for Americas at Zyxel.

In addition, the solution offers recurring revenue opportunities for managed services providers (MSPs) that serve the SMB market. The NWA1100N-CE allows MSPs to administer multiple customers' WiFi networks remotely and in real time. According to AMI Partners, SMBs will spend nearly $100 billion by 2014 on cloud computing and the cloud offers SMBs numerous benefits, including pooled resources for lower cost per user, on-demand access to services, the ability to centralize and simplify management, and constant access to resources.

The platform allows midmarket companies to create a single virtual wireless network across multiple locations, and employees can access a network at any location without changing client settings. Companies can enforce uniform access rules and policies for their business from a single point. The access point also allows businesses to remotely manage multiple networks in real time from anywhere via a browser-based dashboard, and administrators can perform all management activities remotely, upgrade all APs with a single click, and receive real-time alerts to emails and cell phones.

The NWA1100N-CE is available from all authorized Zyxel resellers and e-commerce partners. The suggested price for the platform is $159,l and a one-year subscription for cloud-management service has a suggested price of $129. The NWA1100N-CE can also operate as a stand-alone device without the cloud-management service, the company noted.