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DiVitas Networks has launched a new unified mobile communications appliance, promising enterprise workers seamless coverage, including cross-Wi-Fi and cellular-network roaming.
The company claims that the new device, which is neither a router nor a switch, allows for wireless roaming in any WLAN (wireless LAN) environment, including the ability to interface with any PBX over any type of fixed, mobile or wireless network.
The company is also touting the devices ability to integrate with business applications such as CRM (customer relationship management) and SFA (sales force automation) tools.
DiVitas executives maintain that expense and headaches related to supporting wireless throughout corporate facilities is slowing the adoption of enterprise mobile technologies.
Chief Executive Vivek Khuller said that since cellular networks are costly, wireless VOIP (voice over IP) still has limited reach, and neither system can interface with Wi-Fi sufficiently to support uninterrupted roaming across networks, the mobile business revolution has hit a wall.
“The reason why most workers are still using a land line in their office is because companies cant afford dropped calls and they cant afford seamless roaming, but we think this is a very straightforward effective solution to that problem,” Khuller said.
“When you also consider the types of applications that companies want to support alongside voice, you understand that theres really a need to improve on todays wireless experience, which remains fractured and inconsistent,” he said.
As Wi-Fi technology comes to be used to help solve these problems, Khuller said, there will be an even greater demand for technologies such as DiVitas appliance, the companys first product since launching in 2005, that allow firms to adopt the new wireless infrastructure while still supporting cellular handhelds and VOIP applications.
Another proposed benefit of the appliance is that it can be used in any manufacturers network environment, with any type of handset or PBX. DiVitas said it will also soon announce interoperability with a handful of WLAN, handset and IP/PBX partners.
The networking appliance is aimed to compete against emerging technologies such as UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access) that are being driven by large wireless carriers and some handset makers, but have yet to see widespread adoption.
Khuller said that using one of his companys devices, companies can begin enjoying the same performance benefits as with UMA, without waiting for the carriers to build out their networks.
“UMA is going to require a massive adoption of new equipment by carriers and handset makers, and we dont think companies want or need to wait for those systems to get up and running to support Wi-Fi and roaming,” he said. “This is a much simpler way to solve the problem and carriers will see a big upside from it as well; once an appliance like this goes into an enterprise, the uplink will bypass all the wire lines, and voice can be remotely managed.”