Buffalo Technology Launches AirStation; Affordable, Wi-Fi Compatible System Brings the Mobility, Speed and Security of Wireless Networking to the Masses.Business Editors and High-Tech Writers NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2000 Buffalo Technology (USA) Inc., a subsidiary of Japan-based Melco Inc., Monday launched AirStation, a secure, high-speed wireless LAN A local area network that transmits over the air typically in the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz unlicensed frequency band. It does not require line of sight between sender and receiver. Wireless base stations (access points) are wired to an Ethernet network and transmit a radio frequency over an area (WLAN See wireless LAN. WLAN - wireless local area network ) solution offering the functionality required to network corporate campuses at a price that makes it affordable for SOHO Soho (sōhō`, sə–), district of Westminster, London, England, known for its continental restaurants. Once a fashionable quarter, it became popular among writers and artists in the 19th cent. use. Buffalo's AirStation is based on the 2.4GHz, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, New York, www.ieee.org) A membership organization that includes engineers, scientists and students in electronics and allied fields. 802.11b standard making the promise of 11 Mbps maximum wireless connectivity. The system offers a highly secure network through the implementation of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum) See spread spectrum. ) RF transmission technology and operates cross-platform, seamlessly networking PC and Macintosh-based operating systems Operating systems can be categorized by technology, ownership, licensing, working state, usage, and by many other characteristics. In practice, many of these groupings may overlap. . "We are able to provide the mobility, speed, security, and ease of wireless networking See wireless network. at a price that makes it an affordable option both for entities requiring full-featured networking across corporate campuses as well as home users that might merely want to share a high-speed Internet connection," explained Takafumi "Tommy" Nakano, president of Buffalo Technology (USA). "With seamless automatic roaming, an 11 Mbps data transmission speed and cross-platform functionality, the AirStation Wireless LAN series brings a new level of flexibility to network managers." AirStation is currently available in three configurations: standard access point, access point with a 56K modem, and access point with a router function. Client connectivity options include a PCMCIA card for networking notebook computers as well as PCI (1) (Payment Card Industry) See PCI DSS. (2) (Peripheral Component Interconnect) The most widely used I/O bus (peripheral bus). and ISA bus adapters for desktop systems. All access point configurations are Internet-ready and represent the most cost efficient way to share Internet connections within the workgroup or in home office environments. Easy Setup and Configuration AirStation utilizes a browser-based management system that makes the network easy to setup and configure. Also included are a unique comprehensive site diagnostics utility and a WLAN management suite that ensure the reliability and manageability of the wireless network. Secure Networking A variety of security technologies are employed to ensure that data transmitted throughout the AirStation network are protected. These features include a highly secure DSSS modulation platform, MAC addressing that "closes the door" to unregistered access, and a WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) An IEEE standard security protocol for wireless 802.11 networks. Introduced in 1997, WEP was found to be very inadequate and was superseded by WPA, WPA2 and 802.11i. 40-bit wireless packet encryption process that secures the data without sacrificing throughput speed. Standardized Networking Means Additional Flexibility To ensure industry compatibility between networking hardware and software, the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA See Wi-Fi Alliance. ) has established the wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) certification. Network cards and access points that bear the Wi-Fi logo have been tested to ensure interoperability with other Wi-Fi-certified products. AirStation has been certified as Wi-Fi compatible adding another level of flexibility for network managers. About Melco Inc. and Buffalo Technology (USA) Inc. With headquarters in Torrance, Calif., Buffalo Technology (USA) Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan-based Melco Inc. Melco is the world's fourth largest manufacturer of computer memory and an industry leader in the manufacturing of peripheral products for both the PC and Macintosh platforms. Melco's strong international industry alliances with companies including Intel, Rambus, Apple and Microsoft have allowed the company to continue to lead the industry in the development of the latest technologies into practical, easy to use tools for business and the home. For additional information on Buffalo's products, contact Buffalo Technology (USA) Inc., 1977 W. 190th Street, Suite 100, Torrance, Calif. 90504. 310/965-0448. Web site: http://www.buffalotech.com. |
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