Proxim Kit Adds 802.11a Capabilities To Access Point

Sunnyvale-based wireless vendor Proxim, which research firm In-Stat reports is the market-share leader for 802.11a products, last week released an 802.11a kit for its dual-slot AP-2000 access point.

The kit effectively allows solution providers to create a wireless access point that simultaneously handles separate 802.11a and 802.11b Wi-Fi networks or simply provides a potential upgrade path from the older Wi-Fi standard to 802.11a technology, according to Proxim technical specifications.

The existing AP-2000 access point contains two card slots with attached high-gain dual diversity antennas. The new 5GHz 802.11a card joins an existing 2.4GHz Wi-Fi card that also is available for use in the device.

Although many solution providers have said their customers are satisfied with Wi-Fi's 11-Mbps speeds, others point out that vertical markets such as health care, graphic design and architecture are hungry for increased wireless bandwidth.

Bruce Mortensen, president of Mediserve Information Systems, a Tempe, Ariz.-based solution provider offering solutions for the health-care industry, said many hospitals are finally ready to invest in wireless technology and are looking for the fastest data transfers possible for their deployments.

"We see 802.11a taking over pretty quickly," Mortensen said. "The interoperability between manufacturers and the speed of transfers is what hospitals are looking for."

Ampy Buchholtz, engineering manager at wireless LAN specialist Pacific Star Communications, Portland, Ore., said customers who want to do more than run e-mail over wireless networks are requesting extra bandwidth.

"For data exchange, such as binary files and JPEGs, believe me, the extra added bandwidth comes in handy," he said.

Proxim's AP-2000 802.11a kit carries a suggested list price of $249. The dual-slot AP-2000 access point is priced at $849.

Proxim's latest wireless product introduction follows on the heels of dual-access point product releases from low-cost wireless network vendors, including D-Link, SMC and Linksys.