Cisco Unveils IOS-Based Wireless LAN, Mobile Router

Cisco Systems

In separate news Wednesday, the networking hardware vendor released a new mobile router designed to provide seamless Internet connectivity to moving vehicles.

With Cisco IOS software running on the wireless network, Cisco's new Aironet 1100 access points can support virtual LANs, Quality of Service and Proxy Mobile IP, said Ron Seide, product line manager for Cisco's wireless networking business unit.

Basing its wireless platforms on IOS software also allows for faster and easier deployments for Cisco's solution provider partners because they are familiar with IOS, which also runs Cisco's wired switches and routers, Seide said.

The Aironet 1100 is designed to be a lower-cost solution than Cisco's previously released Aironet 1200 enterprise class access point, he said.

The 1200 can be used indoors or outdoors, supports both 802.11a and 802.11b, and comes with several antenna options, Seide said. The 1100 is an indoor solution that supports 802.11b with an integrated omnidirectional antenna, he said.

Both the 1100 and 1200 access points will be upgradable to the faster 802.11g standard when Cisco releases 802.11g products in mid-2003.

Cisco's Aironet 1200 series will be upgraded to support IOS software in the first quarter of 2003, Seide said. Existing 1200 customers will be able to upgrade to IOS at no charge.

Available now, the Aironet 1100 is list priced at $599.

Cisco's 3200 Series Mobile Access Router is initially being targeted at the military, public safety and transportation markets, said Marc Bresniker, marketing manager for the 3200.

The router is designed to support multiple wireless technologies for connecting to the Internet, allowing vehicles to roam from a satellite connection to a Wi-Fi or other connection without losing the connection, said Sam Ezekiel, general manager of Cisco's SOHO and mobile access business unit.