Buffalo Technology Introduces New SMB/SOHO Products

Included in the new products is LinkStation, a SOHO network storage server designed to store media files such as videos, photos and music that can also be used as a print and file server. LinkStation, which includes wireless capabilities, is set to become available in January 2004 at a street price of $299.

Morikazu Sano, vice president of networking for Buffalo, said the LinkStation is targeted toward offices with about 10 to 15 persons -- too small for an established file server, but too big not to have one.

"The price should make it particularly attractive," said Sano.

Buffalo also unveiled the AirStation One-Touch Secure System (A.O.S.S.), a new home/SOHO network infrastructure that allows one wireless device to serve all the clients on the network so that wireless devices can connect to and communicate with other wireless devices.

"We developed A.O.S.S. so that users don't have to install wireless clients one at a time," said Sano. "This just takes a few clicks."

A.O.S.S. is scheduled to become available in 2Q 2004 with a firmware upgrade to Buffalo's AirStation 54 Mbps Wireless Broadband Router Base Station-g, AirStation 54 Mbps Wireless Ethernet Converter-g and the AirStation 802.11b Wireless Router Base Station.

Sano said Buffalo is also working with Broadcom to develop a low power, high performance WLAN A.O.S.S. based module. Once the technology becomes available, said Sano, all of the above named products will begin shipping with A.O.S.S.

Buffalo also announced Monday it has partnered with Funk Software to create a multi-platform WPA (wireless protected access)-compatible client manager aimed at allowing for more control over the wireless network to which a user connects. Pricing was not immediately available.

The Austin, Texas based networking vendor with worldwide headquarters in Japan, also introduced a new SOHO/SMB Network USB Print Server, designed to provide users with the ability to share one printer with multiple notebook and desktop computers.

The LPVS-USB-TX1 is set to become available in January 2004 with a street price of $59.