Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Mobile
    • PC Hardware

    Dell Puts New Wireless Setup into Laptops

    Written by

    Wayne Rash
    Published July 7, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Dell is replacing Microsofts wireless setup wizard in its laptops and mobile workstations with one from a smaller vendor that officials say offers improved functionality and troubleshooting support.

      The product from SingleClick Systems provides a sophisticated application for sensing the characteristics of a wireless network, setting up connections to the network, and managing a variety of network profiles for users who move their laptops from one location to another.

      The product, which is also available directly from SingleClick, of Toms River, N.J., is shipping under the name of Dell Network Assistant on Dells consumer laptops, notebooks for SMBs (small and midsize businesses) and its mobile workstations.

      According to Dell spokesperson Anne Camden, those systems include Inspiron notebooks, Dimension desktops, XPS laptop and desktop systems, and the Dell Precision mobile workstations. Camden told eWEEK that Dell customers can try out the new software by visiting www.dell.com/networkassistant.

      The product is also available at SingleClicks Web site as SingleClick HomeNet Manager.

      In an interview with eWEEK, SingleClick CEO Scot Zarkiewicz said that while the product shipping with the current Dell products is suitable for SMBs, his company is working on a new version of the software for larger corporate and enterprise customers that will work with bigger networks and domain controllers and fit into a larger IT environment. He said he hopes the product would also be available through Dell, of Round Rock, Texas.

      Zarkiewicz declined to say when the enterprise version of the software would be available.

      /zimages/1/28571.gifDells latest Latitude D notebooks use wireless to get ahead. Read more here.

      In addition to vastly easing the setup and management of wireless connections, SingleClicks software manages profiles for multiple locations, such as an office wireless network and a home network, he said. The product also provides wireless security that manages the network gateway router and can prevent unknown users from attaching to a network without permission.

      Zarkiewicz said the HomeNet Manager product effectively offloads some management functions so that the network router, including wireless routers such as those available from Netgear or Linksys, will query its client before allowing a connection to the network. However, according to Dell, this security function is currently disabled in its version of the software until the company makes some additional improvements.

      The SingleClick software is designed to keep track of a network map by reading every device on the network and presenting it for approval by the user or network manager. This works with any device on the network, without regard to the operating system that may be running on the device.

      Rounding out the feature set, Dell and SingleClick are including a PC and network troubleshooter as part of the SingleClick suite. This software can diagnose and fix problems on the computer on which its installed, and it can also diagnose problems on the local network or on the WAN to which the computer is attached. Camden said that would ease the workload for Dells support staff.

      /zimages/1/28571.gifClick here to read an eWEEK Labs review of Dells high-end XPS Dell XPS M2010 notebook.

      According to Marc Padovani, manager of Dells support tools marketing team, the new SingleClick software was developed by both companies. “We developed this product out of a necessity to improve our customer experience in setting up and managing their home networks and small offices,” he said.

      Padovani said most of those networks are wireless, which is why the wireless setup capability was critical.

      The troubleshooting capabilities were also important to Dell, he said. “We combed our data on support calls, and looked at the trends that were going on in the consumer space, and determined the information and troubleshooting that were needed,” Padovani said.

      He said that prior to this release, SingleClicks product was actually three stand-alone items. “We worked with them to merge the functionality of the three products,” he said.

      Padovani also said that Dell added a more basic top-level view, and a wireless FAQ feature to the product that aids users in setting up their wireless networks and keeping them running.

      Zarkiewicz said the new software started shipping on Dell computers the week of July 3. He also said that as of July 7, the company has about 30,000 registered users though Dell, and that the company got about 5,000 new customers on that day. He said the rate of increase is about 500 a day.

      Padovani said he hopes Dells installed customer base will also download the product and use it, which is why its being made available to the companys customers on its Web site.

      /zimages/1/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest news in desktop and notebook computing.

      Wayne Rash
      Wayne Rash
      https://www.eweek.com/author/wayne-rash/
      Wayne Rash is a content writer and editor with a 35-year history covering technology. He’s a frequent speaker on business, technology issues and enterprise computing. He is the author of five books, including his most recent, "Politics on the Nets." Rash is a former Executive Editor of eWEEK and a former analyst in the eWEEK Test Center. He was also an analyst in the InfoWorld Test Center and editor of InternetWeek. He's a retired naval officer, a former principal at American Management Systems and a long-time columnist for Byte Magazine.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×