[IP] Cisco launches metro area wireless solution for public sector
Begin forwarded message:
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: July 9, 2004 4:55:43 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Cisco launches metro area wireless solution for
public sector
Reply-To: dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Cisco launches metro area wireless solution for public sector
by Chris Talbot
<http://www.integratedmar.com/ecl-usa/story.cfm?item=18466>
Cisco Systems has released a new solution that allows the company and
its channel partners to build metropolitan-area broadband wireless
networks for connecting various public services agencies.
The goal of the Cisco Metropolitan Mobile Network solution to create a
metro-wide wireless network that connects some or all public sector
agencies in a given area that allows them to share resources and
communicate with each other more effectively. According to Ann Sun,
senior manager of wireless and mobility marketing at Cisco, the public
sector has a need for real-time, mobile access to applications and
tools, which could lead to increased productivity and responsiveness of
city personnel.
Built to be scalable, secure and standards-based, the Metropolitan
Mobile Network solution uses several different Cisco products,
including the Aironet Series Outdoor Access Point/Bridge and the Cisco
3200 Series Router with new integrated Wireless Mobile Interface Card,
which supports 802.11b and 802.11g in both LAN and WAN environments.
However, the solution is also technologically scalable so that it can
incorporate future wireless technologies, such as 802.16 (also known as
WiMAX).
"There's been over the last couple of years a lot of interest, mostly
driven by public safety, homeland security and other initiatives, but I
think what a lot of public sector agencies are looking at now is
enhancing communications and interoperability, in particular, between
different agencies," Sun said.
As with the private sector, the public sector has been cost-conscious
and is looking to improve operational efficiencies and increase the
presence of public sector agencies at an affordable price. According to
Cisco, the Metropolitan Mobile Network solution is meant to be a
cost-effective solution, and it's currently being used in pilot and
trial deployments in locations like Cook County, Ill. and the City of
Westminster.
The public sector is looking to extend its network to the edge and the
outside and mobile environment, Sun said.
"I think in particular this makes sense because they do have so many
workers who are mobile, who are moving around during their day, and
they need that access to resources and the applications. And to be able
to communicate between different agencies is really important," Sun
said.
Sun added that the launch of the Metropolitan Mobile Network solution
is very relevant to Cisco's channel partners, as it will be the
partners that drive it to the end customers. The idea behind the
solution is to have a single integrated network infrastructure for
public sector agencies. From a Cisco perspective, integration means
having the same type of reliability and security that those customers
are familiar with in their current operating environments, she said.
The solution would be capable of providing a video feed to police cars,
fire trucks and ambulances on root to an incident so they're better
prepared when they arrive, but it also allows those mobile workers to
collaborate and respond effectively at the scene of the incident, Sun
said. It allows for enhanced communications, collaboration and
prioritization between the different agencies.
For the channel, the solution offers the opportunity to provide a
value-add around the integration, design and deployment aspects, Sun
said.
"A lot of our channel partners are like consultants for these different
public sector agencies, and they're looking at what can they pull
together to provide them with a complete solution, whether it's
additional software, it's custom hardware or those professional
services offerings that partners have available," Sun said.
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