Cisco Systems acquired Aironet Wireless Communications, a pioneer in wireless technologies, in November 1999. . Today, Cisco's next-generation family of wireless products, the Aironet 350 Series, leads the industry in performance, security, and reliability with cost-effective solutions for enterprise users, as well as small to medium-sized businesses. .The 350 Series is the first and only product family to deliver wireless solutions that offer scalable, centralized security, and in-line power to simplify installations and reduce the total cost of ownership. .Redesigned adapters, access points, and bridge products feature 100-mW transmit power, providing an industry-leading edge in range & performance.

The Aironet 350 Series of products serve to enhance the "freedom of mobility" for On-The-Go users who benefit from having ready access to a "wireless" LAN connection. The addition of advanced security and authentication features, available only in the new 350 Series, creates an easily managed environment that allows seamless integration onto the "wired" network, for such users.. Cisco's new wireless networking security framework allows network administrators to scale thousands of deployments throughout the enterprise, with the confidence that all LAN-user types (wireless and wired) can now be serviced from a common management platform (Cisco Secure ACS for Windows).. The 350 Series of wireless LAN bridges, which do not require a frequency-approved license in order to install or operate, are relatively easy to install and capable of delivering up to 56Mbps of bandwidth, over extended distances (up to 20 miles).. ROI can be realized in as little as four months when compared to the monthly rental of a T-1 circuit (ROI will vary depending on monthly telco charges)..Both in-building and building-to-building WLAN applications are available as a standards-based, field proven, high-speed wireless solution (see schematic below).

If you're interested in receiving additional information about Cisco's new wireless networking security framework, which has evolved in response to newly ratified extensions to the IEEE 802.1x standard (see note below) please call or e-mail your Cisco AM or contact us directly. .As an authorized Cisco reseller, NSI specializes in providing customers with quick delivery, outstanding technical support and exceptional values, for a wide range of Cisco product solutions.

In 1999, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) ratified an extension to a previous standard. Called IEEE 802.11b, it defines the standard for wireless LAN products that operate at an Ethernet-like data rate of 11 Mbps, a speed that makes wireless LAN technology viable in enterprises and other large organizations. Interoperability of wireless LAN products from different vendors is ensured by an independent organization called the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), which brands compliant products as "Wi-Fi.". Dozens of vendors market Wi-Fi products, and organizations of every size and type are now actively deploying wireless LANs. The reader should note that newer and more advanced standards, designated 802.11a and g, have since been ratified, which facilitate not only faster speeds but also enhanced security features and levels of interoperability for "corporate" users of competing WIFI technologies.