D-Link Cuts The Cord For Networks

Midsize and smaller businesses offer ripe opportunities when it comes to untethered networking technology. And, indeed, many larger accounts rely on a patchwork of smaller WLANs.

One vendor that has always made quality wireless offerings is D-Link, and this trend continues with the vendor&s AirPremier DWL-8200AP Managed Dualband Access Point.

The $549 unit is built with two detachable high-gain 802.11a and 11g dualband antennas. The antennas provide secure optimal wireless coverage wherever the product is deployed.

The dualband WAP also integrates 802.3af, or Power over Ethernet (PoE), support. This allows the device to be deployed to handle scenarios where power does not exist or is hard to access. Solution providers that serve the downtown Manhattan area, as an example, have found it either impossible or too costly to break through brick walls to run electricity to their infrastructure. PoE support can make a huge difference to the bottom line in such situations.

It is virtually impossible to talk about wireless deployment in the SMB market without bringing up security features, and the 8200AP has plenty of options. For example, the device provides both WPA and WPA2 with RADIUS support, MAC Address Filtering, Wireless LAN segmentation, and support for the Advanced Encryption Standard.

All feature options for the WAP are managed through a Web-based configuration utility or by using Telnet.

D-link offers a two-tier channel program. Authorized partners are required to generate quarterly sales of $25,000 or more, while solution providers that achieve Diamond status must meet sales targets of $75,000 or more.

Margins range from 5 percent to 10 percent, depending on partner status, and partners are entitled to priority technical support, priority return merchandise authorization, lead referral, a rebate percentage, access to a dedicated partner Web site and early product notification.