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Research shows that the largest single block of IT staff time is spent on moves/adds/changes of network users. Problems with Ethernet ports, cables, server and application access, securing sensitive data while allowing selective access – all these issues complicate the administration of user accounts and raise network maintenance costs.
Proxim's wireless networking solutions remove this administrative burden. Users have Wi-Fi clients in their laptops that connect seamlessly with wireless access points throughout the organization. The access points provide both network security and appropriate access to resources. Administrators choose the settings appropriate for user groups, and then roaming becomes seamless and low-maintenance – without the need for manual changes.
Whether erecting a new building on an existing campus, adding capacity by linking up a temporary office, or finding a cost-effective way to connect buildings separated by a road or rail, wireline connectivity can be tricky and expensive to install. Laying cable for a temporary site would be untenable, and trenching cable across a campus to a new site can be time-consuming and expensive – especially if there is a public works barrier to negotiate. On the other hand, paying for a leased line can be unnecessarily expensive.
Wireless solutions from Proxim allow instant, cost-effective connectivity between buildings up to 40 miles apart – and are designed for outdoor use. Wireless bridges are installed on or near appropriate buildings, and linked to the existing LAN infrastructure. Installation of a wireless link is quick and relatively simple – taking days instead of months. Wireless offers equal or better performance, security and reliability to cabling – so there is no tradeoff in quality.
IP voice service on an enterprise Wi-Fi network addresses many mobile communication issues. But when professionals must also roam outside the office to customer sites, supplier sites, and remote offices – they rely on cellular phones and service. This redundancy has many disadvantages. First, redundancy incurs the expense of two business phones rather than one. Second, IT managers and finance managers alike lack insight into – and control over – individual cellular devices and service costs. Third, the end-user has multiple phone numbers and voicemail accounts to check, manage, and distribute to contacts – and misses phone calls to one or the other phone.
Proxim, working closely with Motorola and Avaya, is delivering the first dual-network wireless infrastructure supporting handsets that roam from cellular network to Wi-Fi network – with enterprise-class phone features. Users experience the simplicity of a single handset for business use – both in the office and on cellular networks. That means one number to manage, one voicemail and fewer missed calls. For enterprises, converged telephony service will allow centralized control over costs and contracts, and much more responsive employees. And for service providers, offering this converged dual-network service allows differentiated service and a strong enterprise presence.
In order to extend corporate phone services to remote offices or warehouses, corporations must install a PBX both at the central site and at the remote site, and link the two with a separate T1 line for voice traffic. This is obviously costly. And the alternative of simply a phone and answering machine isn't professionally acceptable.
Corporations can cut leased line costs and leverage a single infrastructure by installing a wireless voice/data bridge at the remote site. This allows administrators to extend PBX-based voice services to remote offices without high costs. Software allows bandwidth limiting on latency-tolerant applications so that voice traffic has no quality degradation on the voice/data link.
Employees aren't the only mobile users in corporate networks. Visitors such as customers, resellers, training attendees and contractors compose a transient group that requests and/or requires Internet access for official and personal use. With the rise in Wi-Fi clients embedded in laptops, users are beginning to expect ubiquitous Internet access. Accommodating guest access on a one-by-one basis – whether through the wired or private corporate wireless network – is cumbersome, time-consuming and generally not practical for IT organizations and users alike.
The same wireless network used for employees can offer secure, on-demand guest access, too. Proxim's wireless LAN access points can securely support private (for the company) as well as public (for visitors) networks. Access to the company network and data remain secure and available only to authorized employees – and visitors access only the Internet using the same wireless access points. The wireless access points will ensure that every guest gets on the network, preventing support calls to the IT organization – as well as the time and expense of manual guest access setup. In case of high guest usage of the network, IT administrators can prioritize users and traffic appropriately.
With a large mobile population, such as a field sales force or training organization, a permanent workspace for each employee isn't easy to cost-justify. Access to the network – no matter what the location – is important especially for these customer-facing groups. In order to reduce real estate and utility costs, corporations are employing the technique of "hotelling" – providing temporary workspace accessible to any employee who needs it. But consistent phone, network and application access can be so challenging that it almost negates the advantages of hotelling.
By installing a wireless LAN, access point features assist users with automatic negotiation of network access and correct resource permissions – without a call to the technical support staff. Instead of being a hassle for both user and support staff, hotelling is simple and facilitates business transactions.
Organizations are becoming more mobile, more virtual. Sales and marketing personnel are moving between company locations, customer sites and conventions. Network access can mean the difference between success and failure when trying to close a deal or make a convincing presentation. Yet every mobile professional has experienced the struggle inherent in getting network connectivity in a new place: finding a free Ethernet port, figuring out if it's on, finding a cable, trying to figure out what setting changes are needed to get things working – this can easily consume a full half-hour. And often these attempts fail – which results in an emergency call to the local IT staff, who drop what they're doing to assist the user. Productivity for two people just stopped for approximately 30 minutes.
Wireless can dramatically facilitate mobility – not just because the user is "un-tethered." The network settings for Wi-Fi roaming between sites can be set up once by an administrator, and then the user doesn't bother with them again. The client laptop automatically searches for available wireless networks and connects – seamless to the user. When network authentication is required, software automatically generates a user prompt. This reduces calls to technical support, and speeds user connectivity.
Since 2001, the importance of network contingency planning has unfortunately become more of a reality. When disaster strikes – be it natural disaster or terrorism – networks can be the link that facilitates both human and economic recovery. Medical resources need to be quickly, efficiently deployed to the correct areas; donations and supplies must be delivered to those in need; and commerce should resume normalcy to prevent further hardship. In disaster circumstances, hard-wired networks are fragile. Detecting and fixing breaks in the line may require getting into flooded or dangerous areas. Network redundancy may prevent some outages, but if the wires are co-located, both may be disabled by the same circumstance.
Wireless solutions are the perfect technology for network contingency planning. Not only are wireless networks cost-effective, they offer a safer alternative to redundant buried lines. By diversifying the redundant link, the chances of a single event affecting both is decreased. In the event both the wireless and wired network are disabled, re-establishing wireless connectivity can be accomplished in minutes – as opposed to the days or weeks it could take to repair or replace wire lines. By placing a new wireless unit on or near of an affected building, a breech can be remedied immediately.
Effective teamwork is at a premium: reducing operating expenses, developing high quality products and maintaining regular customer interaction all require very tight teamwork and exemplary communication across groups. Ironically, collaborative work removes employees from their desks – hampering communication with others. As a result, decisions are often delayed and business processes hit barriers. Employees can carry cell phones to mitigate this problem, which then generates large monthly bills, and results in two or three different voicemail systems to manage.
Specific groups of corporate employees benefit dramatically from wireless IP telephone systems. Sales people who can’t afford to miss customer calls, executives rarely at their desks and other team-oriented workers can carry their primary business phone along with them as they work in a more collaborative environment away from their desks. As a result, employees are more accessible and can respond immediately to requests from customers or coworkers. By installing a Wi-Fi network in enterprise offices, wireless IP phones with high voice quality and reliability offer unmatched coverage. The same Wi-Fi network can be leveraged for data communications on Wi-Fi laptops or PDAs, allowing true corporate mobility.