New Proxim Wireless CEO Looks To The Future Of Wireless

This week, Manglik took over as CEO of Proxim Wireless, a wireless networking vendor that saw its revenue spike from $1 million in 1998 to $75 million in 2006. That meteoric revenue jump, under the helm of former CEO and president Robert Fitzgerald, will weigh heavily on Manglik as he takes the lead and tries to build on past successes.

Manglik, who was Proxim's president and COO since May 2006 and a director since July 2006, is no stranger to the WLAN. Before joining Proxim, he co-founded Aruba Networks, a wireless infrastructure company traded on the NASDAQ, and was director of product management for Alteon Websystems, which was acquired by Nortel Networks. Before that, Manglik held positions with Cisco Systems and Intel.

"Our plan going forward is pretty straight forward, especially as channels are concerned," Manglik said.

According to Manglik, Proxim has historically been a technology savvy company. As the San Jose, Calif.-based vendor gears up for 2008, he wants to spend a lot of time focusing on sales and marketing while also rounding out Proxim's professional services, which implement wireless networks.

Proxim makes core-to-client solutions for metro-scale broadband wireless networks, enabling wireless applications such as security and surveillance systems, mobile workforce automation and machine-to-machine connections. To date, Proxim has shipped more than 1.5 million wireless devices to more than 200,000 customers globally.

For solution providers, Manglik said he wants to make it easier for them to sell and implement wireless networks, either outdoor or indoor. That plan includes designing services solution providers can sell that include installation.

John Hollbrook, director of Systems Integrated, an Orange, Calif.-based systems integrator and solution provider, said he's confident Proxim's internal changes will only help partners develop and offer systems and solutions to their customers.

"Proxim is probably our key partner in terms of products we integrate," Hollbrook said. "Proxim has helped us move into an arena where we can provide a high-performance network for these systems. They've got the right product mix of point-to-point and point-to-multi-point solutions."

Systems Integrated serves commercial industries, government agencies and public utilities. Hollbrook said the company relies on partners to help develop its solutions and understand that projects can often take six months and a year to develop. He said Manglik taking over as CEO will likely have positive results.

"They're taking a more strategic look at their partners," he said. "They're making the moves internally to strengthen partnerships. Proxim understands it's not going to get there one radio at a time, but by offering systems. They have to have that internal commitment and Proxim is strengthening that internal group to help our business."

Along with using its core set of products, Manglik said he also sees the new WLAN standard, 802.11n, shaking up the wireless networking industry and the solution providers that serve it.

"Those products are extremely channel friendly," he said. "They offer high margins and VARs will sell them in high volumes."

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