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Wi-Fi hardware and management software maker Trapeze Networks Inc. is readying a new outdoor access point that boasts data throughput rates faster than Fast Ethernet.
Trapeze has received federal approval for an outdoor access point called the MP-620, according to documents posted on the Federal Communications Commissions Web site last week.
Designed to be centrally managed by the companys Mobility Exchange controllers, the MP (Mobility Point)-620 operates in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz radio frequency bands and is compatible with the 802.11b, 802.11g and 802.11a wireless LAN standards.
While 802.11g and 802.11a have maximum throughput rates of 54M bps, the access points 802.11a radio can also run in a proprietary turbo mode, giving it data throughput rates of up to 108 M bps, according to a test report posted on the site.
The companys current access point, the MP-372, does not operate in a turbo mode.
The MP-620 uses an omnidirectional antenna.
Trapeze officials declined to say exactly when they will announce and release the product, but sources close to the company said it should be announced within a month.
Company executives have said in the past that the company plans to participate in the mesh networking space, making Trapeze access points work in outdoor mesh networks as well as letting the companys RingMaster management system work with mesh hardware from Nortel Networks, which acts as a channel partner for some of Trapezes products.
Trapeze also has partnerships with 3Com Corp., D-Link Systems Inc. and Enterasys Networks Inc.
“Trapeze is probably doing OK mainly due to their partnership arrangements,” said Rachna Ahlawat, an analyst at Gartner Inc., a consultancy in San Jose, Calif. “I dont hear much about their own brand name.”
Executives have said the company aims to integrate its product line with the product lines of its partners, rather than to simply be a channel partner for its existing products.
“Everythings pointing to consolidation, so I wont ignore that, but if I can do more than become a Mini-Me of Nortel, then I can drive a good valuation,” said Jim Vogt, president and CEO of Trapeze, in Pleasanton, Calif., in an interview last May.
Mesh networks dynamically route packets from node to node.
Only one access point needs to be connected directly to the wired network, with the rest sharing a connection over the air, though in large mesh environments several access points may be connected.
