Aruba Networks Releases Decorative, Vandal-Resistant Indoor Access Point for Hospitality, Education, Healthcare, and Corporate Applications

One typical application is the hospitality market. The aesthetics of guest rooms and facilities are important because they make a statement about quality. The launch customer for the AP-65WB is a resort chain that needed robust wireless connectivity throughout its guest rooms but wanted the décor to match that of an upscale living room. The AP-65WB was selected specifically because it did not look like an access point. Since the AP-65WB is installed in the same electrical box in which the Ethernet cable is terminated, the access point is completely unobtrusive. Polarized antennas provide ideal wireless coverage when the AP-65WB is mounted low to the floor, while for ceiling height applications the unit can be rotated 180 degrees to provide downward coverage. Guests receive reliable wireless coverage and IT support costs are held in check because the vandal-resistant package is easy to install and highly reliable.

The AP-65WB measures 115mm H x 115mm W x 84mm D (4.53" x 4.53" x 3.29"), and weighs just 0.2kg (7.2oz). Designed to be mounted directly into a double gang electrical box using standard or security screws, the AP-65WB can also be mounted to select 4 11/16" square boxes using the included adapter plate. The Wi-Fi Certified access point uses power-over-Ethernet exclusively to eliminate the need for a local power supply.

To optimize Wi-Fi performance, the AP-65WB supports Aruba's Adaptive Radio Management (ARM) technology. ARM lowers deployment and maintenance costs by automating site surveys and using infrastructure-based controls to enhance the performance of Wi-Fi clients in real-time. Acting on their own, Wi-Fi clients do not always work cooperatively with other clients, or select the optimal band, channel, and access point. These issues are exacerbated in settings with densely packed users. ARM uses a variety of techniques to control how Wi-Fi clients interact, thereby ensuring that data, voice, and video applications have sufficient network resources, including airtime, to operate properly.

"The AP-65WB fills a void in the market for a high-performance, Wi-Fi Certified access point that completely blends in with its surroundings," said Aruba product manager Onno Harms. "Since many customers already terminate Ethernet cables in an electrical box, it offers a convenient mounting platform for existing sites and can be readily pre-installed in new construction. The AP-65WB's internal antennas were designed with a coverage pattern ideal for near-floor mounting, say in a hotel room, or near-ceiling mounting in a conference room or public space. The low profile and lack of external antennas make the AP-65WB less prone to vandalism, especially when mounted using security screws, reducing on-going maintenance costs."

The AP-65WB is shipping now. Additional information can be found on Aruba's Web site at http://www.arubanetworks.com/products/access_points.php.

About Aruba Networks

People move. Networks must follow. Aruba securely delivers networks to users, wherever they work or roam. Our mobility and network virtualization solutions ensure that the enterprise network moves in lock-step with users:

--  Adaptive 802.11n Wi-Fi networks optimize themselves to ensure that
    users are always within reach of mission-critical information;
--  Identity-based security assigns access policies to users, enforcing
    those policies whenever and wherever a network is accessed;
--  Remote networking solutions ensure uninterrupted access to enterprise
    resources without compromising security;
--  Multi-vendor network management provides a single point of control
    while managing both legacy and new wireless networks from Aruba and its
    competitors.
    

The cost, convenience, and security benefits of our secure mobility solutions are fundamentally changing how and where we work. Listed on the NASDAQ and Russell 2000® Index, Aruba is based in Sunnyvale, California, and has operations throughout the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific regions. To learn more, visit Aruba at http://www.arubanetworks.com. For real-time news updates follow Aruba on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ArubaNetworks.

© 2009 Aruba Networks, Inc. AirWave®, Aruba Networks®, Aruba Mobility Management System®, Bluescanner, For Wireless That Works®, Mobile Edge Architecture, People Move. Networks Must Follow., The All-Wireless Workplace Is Now Open For Business, RFprotect, Green Island, and The Mobile Edge Company® are trademarks of Aruba Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.