switch Vendor Swings Toward Small

n a move to provide partners with more wireless networking solutions that appeal to small businesses, Trapeze Networks has expanded its line of WLAN switching products to include a more economical access point.

The Mobility Point 52 (MP-52), shipping now and priced at $349, features a single Ethernet port supporting 802.3af Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) for smaller deployments. Trapeze MPs are bundled with its other products, including Trapeze Mobility System Software and Mobility Exchanges (WLAN switches).

Jim Vogt, president and CEO of Trapeze, Pleasanton, Calif., said the new access point adds breadth to the product line. “But we still have enough distinction between the higher-priced [MPs] and the lower-priced [MPs], where it’s just enough,” Vogt said. “Our value is at the core, and that’s where we are going to continue to develop our IP.”

For instance, Trapeze’s flagship access points feature multiple PoE ports. With the exception of PoE resiliency, the new MP-52 has the same functionality as other MPs and ships with dual-band 802.11a and 802.11b/g radios using WEP/TKIP/AES encryption. The MP-52 also is packaged in a more traditional off-the-shelf design than its flagship access points. Trapeze also debuted an enclosure case that can host any of its MPs.

Sam Coyl, mobile solutions architect for IntelliMark, a Mechanicsburg, Pa., solution provider, said the MP-52 will enable his company to cater to a wider range of clients, particularly small businesses. “We’re talking with an inner-city Catholic school in our area,” Coyl said. “Very small, no budget whatsoever. There’s not a chance in the world [Trapeze’s top line of access points] would work for them.”

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