Trapeze Networks Introduces New 802.11n Access Point Meeting Unique Demands of High-Density Deployments

PLEASANTON, California - One Size Doesn’t Fit All

Today, Trapeze Networks, a Belden brand (NYSE: BDC), announced U.S. availability of its MP-82, an 802.11n dual-radio 2×3 MIMO indoor access point. With a list price of US$745.00, the MP-82 is a high-value access point ideally-suited for work spaces with a high number of computers, wireless handsets or PDAs needing Wi-Fi connectivity. The MP-82 is the newest member of Trapeze Networks line of NonStop Wireless network line of products.

Less than one year ago, Trapeze Networks introduced it’s first 802.11n access point, the MP-432, a dual-radio 3×3 MIMO indoor access point. The MP-432 is the cornerstone of WLAN deployments around the world, including the world’s largest .11n WLAN deployment, the University of Minnesota. With today’s introduction, the MP-432 continues to be the access point of choice for challenging RF environments that need to cover the largest possible area.

RingMaster Points the Way to New Product Opportunity

Trapeze Networks customers use the RingMaster suite of management software to plan, configure, deploy, monitor and optimize WLANs. A unique feature of RingMaster is its ability to import architectural plans and wiring diagrams to understand the precise radio frequency environment and need for connectivity and then create the optimum deployment of access points.

“During our early .11n deployments, our customers began to notice something based on the deployment diagrams RingMaster created and what we saw suggested an interesting new product opportunity,” said Ahmet Tuncay, Trapeze Networks’ chief technology officer. “Through RingMaster, we validated the need for a second type of 802.11n access point, one designed for areas needing a higher-density of connectivity per square foot, where the range of the radio signal is a secondary consideration to the number of clients needing high throughput. Or, you could put it another way: One size doesn’t fit all. The new MP-82 is the first step any enterprise WLAN company has taken to help its customers deploy the right combination of .11n access points at the right price for the right application. Maybe we’re the first because, at Trapeze Networks, we put customers first.”

Less Than Six Months from Idea to Market, Worldwide Development Effort Swings Into Motion

From the identification of the requirements to getting a product to market took Trapeze Networks less than six months, a remarkably short period of time for a new access point. Trapeze Networks rallied engineers from all three of Trapeze Networks’ development centers - California, China and Romania - to marry hardware and Trapeze Networks’ proprietary access point software and did so in record time. Then the MP-82 was put through rigorous quality assurance testing to ensure it meets Trapeze Networks high standards.

MP-82 Already Accelerating Migration to 802.11n

“Trapeze Networks has already sold the MP-82 into some school systems,” said Steve Asche, Trapeze Networks’ director of inside sales. “Schools, of course, are a perfect setting for an MP-82 - classrooms have a wall-to-wall need for connectivity. But the other thing schools are capitalizing on is that the MP-82 makes the transition to 802.11n easier to afford. Compared to our 802.11a/b/g access point, the Trapeze Networks MP-422, the new MP-82 has more than five times the performance but costs only 25% more. Schools systems know how to do the math.”

MP-82: New Member of the NonStop Wireless Family

NonStop Wireless is an innovation that is delivered in the new version of Trapeze Mobility System Software (MSS). MSS is the distributed wireless operating system that runs on Trapeze’s wireless LAN equipment and delivers the benefits of Trapeze’s Smart Mobile architecture. MSS runs on all Trapeze equipment, from access points to controllers and is backwards compatible across the company’s entire product line. In high-density deployments, MP-82s create a web of connectivity so that, should any access point ever fail, clients will roll over to the one next closest.

About Trapeze Networks

Trapeze Networks, a Belden Brand, is a leader in enterprise wireless LAN equipment and management software. Trapeze was the first company to introduce NonStop Wireless - delivering unmatched reliability to the enterprise wireless LAN and its solutions are optimized for companies requiring mobility and high bandwidth such as healthcare, education, and hospitality. Trapeze delivers Smart Mobile(TM) providing scalable wireless LANs for applications such as Voice over Wi-Fi, location services, and indoor/outdoor connectivity.

Source: Trapeze Networks

Brian D. Johnson of Trapeze Networks, +1-925-337-8911, bjohnson at trapezenetworks.com