Cisco's next-generation Unified Wireless Network offering includes the modular Cisco Aironet 1250 Series access point, which according to the company is the first enterprise-class 11n access point available on the market, as well as the 48 Gbps scalable Cisco Catalyst 6500-based wireless local-area network controller system, and wired and wireless services with the Unified Wireless Network Release 4.2. Cisco will also deliver, via its family of Catalyst switches, the ability to fully power the dual-radio Aironet 1250 Series from a single Ethernet port.
Cisco's new Aironet 1250 Series access point is believed to be the industry's first Wi-Fi-certified 802.11n draft 2.0 access point and the only commercially available product to have participated in the Wi-Fi Alliance 802.11n draft 2.0 testbed. Cisco say this establishes the products as the industry benchmark against which all other products will be certified for Wi-Fi interoperability.
Cisco has applied its experience in radio frequency communications to deliver a fivefold increase in throughput and multiple-in, multiple-out (MIMO) technology to help ensure high reliability of wireless coverage, particularly for challenging RF environments including those found in healthcare, education, warehousing, logistics and manufacturing.
Extensive 802.11n draft 2.0 joint interoperability testing was conducted with Cisco's partner Intel at the Intel Oregon testing facility, which is set up to simulate a typical enterprise environment. By testing with Intel, Cisco is helping to ensure that its next-generation wireless solutions offer more reliable performance and greater compatibility between Intel-based client devices and Cisco wireless networks. In all, more than 90 percent of enterprise laptops have Wi-Fi silicon that is Cisco Compatible Extensions certified, providing the industry's best capabilities for simple, highly secure connectivity.
"Ensuring compatibility and performance are foremost in the adoption of next-generation wireless technologies," said Randy Nickel, director of wireless marketing, Intel mobile platforms group. "Cisco and Intel have worked together closely to ensure that adoption of 802.11n technologies is as seamless as possible for enterprise customers."