WiFi Upstarts, HD Video Conferencing Vendors Lead the Charge at Interop 2010

by Andrew Garcia

Cisco Systems announced four new Aironet access points, including the Aironet 3500 series, which has a spectrum analysis-enabling ASIC on board. Combined with a rev of software on the WLAN Controllers and Mobility Engine, the new APs can identify, locate, track and work around aggressive interference sources.

The CleanAir heat map pinpoints an interference source’s location, and administrators can drill down and track its behavior and effect on the network over time.

Since HP completed the 3Com acquisition, the company’s been beating us over the head with its new “Single Pane of Glass” management. So, here it is. My favorite part that I saw: a place to store all your router and switch config files, with multivendor support.

The former Siemens HiPath wireless products are now branded by Enterasys Wireless. Three new dual-band 802.11n APs were announced at the show—the AP3605, AP3630 and AP3640, with prices starting at $685.

The OmniTouch 8082 My IC Phone replaces Alcatel-Lucent’s top-end executive phone (600 Euro list). It has a capacitive, multitouch screen, runs JavaScript and AJAX apps (check out the company’s app dev portal for details). With a Bluetooth handset, wideband audio support and Linux OS, this is a sweet but ridiculous SIP phone.

LifeSize is getting into content publishing. With a LifeSize 220 series codec and camera, users can stream video and presentations from the room system to an appliance (bottom) that captures, processes and publishes the content.

LifeSize Video Center recordings are published on a Website hosted on the appliance. Content producers can lock content when recording, requiring visitors to enter a key to access all available content recorded with that key.

Polycom’s newest SoundStation IP conference phone is intended for small conference rooms or for a table in an executive office. It supports HD Voice and has a 7-foot microphone pickup range, retailing for $599.

Security company Astaro announced that it will add WLAN controller features to the Astaro Security Gateway. Subscribers with active contract get the feature for free on the ASG when it comes out (expected in June). The 802.11n thin access points cost $150 or $300.

Edgecore Networks, the rebranding SMC line now mostly owned by LG-Nortel (soon LG-Ericsson), announced the Edgecore Wireless MBG. The gateway device serves as a wireless controller that directs 50 to 150 of Edgecore’s 802.11n dual-band APs.

Vu Technologies showcased its Vu TelePresence Premiere, an HD (up to 720p) video conferencing product that can operate in very low bandwidth conditions (200K bps in the demo). For $4,000 you get the codec, a pan and tilt camera, wireless keyboard and mouse, speakers, and a mic. Or you can rent the kit for $99 a month.

The D-Link Unified Wired/Wireless Gigabit Switch can manage up to 64 D-Link DWL-8600AP 802.11n APs by itself, and up to 256 APs in a switch cluster. Admins can tunnel WiFi data traffic back to the switch, or forward from the AP.

Many WLAN vendors skipped Interop, but Xirrus was front and center (of the ring), hosting Interop’s public WiFi network and a bunch of boxing matches. At the show, Tolly Group released a glowing report about Xirrus’ performance compared with a “typical” controller/AP architecture.