Verizon Business Launches Managed Wireless LAN Services

The new Verizon Business Managed Wireless LAN Service, scheduled for U.S. availability in mid-July, works with hardware from WLAN vendor Aruba Networks, according to Basking Ridge, N.J.-based Verizon Business.

Through the service, Verizon Business plans to provide a multistep deployment and management offering, including a predeployment evaluation of the customer site and usage plans, the creation and validation of a WLAN schematic, and a review of security and authentication policies. The company also plans to install and test the WLAN equipment and then manage and monitor the performance of the wireless network.

Optional professional services also will be available, including network-readiness and in-depth security assessments.

A Verizon Business spokesman said the services will be sold direct and that it's "premature" to say whether the services eventually will be offered through channel partners. "Most of our managed services are not available to channel partners because of the complexity of the sale," the spokesman said. But that could change, he added.

"Businesses of all kinds are seeking ways to maintain their competitive edge. Our new managed WLAN service provides organizations the opportunity to deploy a wireless LAN without additional investment in internal management and maintenance resources," Jim DeMerlis, vice president of managed services at Verizon Business, said in a statement.

Verizon Business said the new services will be suited to a variety of industries, including government, education, manufacturing, health care and retail.

The new managed WLAN service will be available as a stand-alone offering or with other Verizon Business managed local- or wide-area networking services. It previously was available only on a custom basis.

Verizon Business, a unit of Verizon Communications, was formed in January as a result of Verizon Communications' merger with MCI.