Central Michigan University Uses Airespace to Teach the Value of Wireless Mobility; New Library, Classrooms, and Clinic ''Unwired'' with Best-in-Class WLAN System.

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 26, 2004

Airespace, Inc. today announced that Central Michigan University (CMU), a vibrant community of scholars, leaders, and partners dedicated to achieving excellence in undergraduate and graduate learning, has chosen the Airespace Wireless Enterprise Platform to deliver Wireless LAN (WLAN) services to students, faculty, and staff on its main campus in Mount Pleasant. CMU's initial deployment of the Airespace WLAN system is in their newly remodeled and expanded library and throughout the beautiful new Health Professions Building, which includes an operational healthcare clinic (www.chp.cmich.edu). The new wireless network is being used to provide better interaction among students and faculty, to facilitate access to online information, and to improve the efficiency of patient care at the university's healthcare facilities. The result is a better educational experience for students and staff members attending this accredited institution.

"We tested several WLAN products. Only the Airespace solution met all of our wireless networking needs -- from ease of deployment to secure operations," said Mark Strandskov, network manager at Central Michigan University. "As this is the same solution that recently 'aced' reviews in eWeek, Network Computing, Network World and other publications, we are confident that the university is delivering best-in-class wireless capabilities to our students and faculty."

The initial Airespace deployment consists of multiple Airespace 4100 WLAN Appliances and over 100 Airespace 1200 Access Points. AireWave Director(TM) Software is embedded on all equipment to provide real-time RF management to support real-world conditions, such as changes in user locations, fluctuations in traffic load, and network interference. Airespace Control System (ACS) Software is used by CMU's small IT department to manage the entire wireless network. From a single console, they can create, enforce, and monitor campus-wide WLAN policies, ensuring easy and cost effective WLAN operations.

CMU chose the Airespace Wireless Enterprise Platform for several key reasons:

-- Integrated wireless protection system -- a single set of

Airespace equipment was deployed for both traffic delivery and

air monitoring. This enables key security features, such as

rogue detection/containment/location, to be provided without

purchasing extra APs, appliances, or software. It also ensures

that 100% of the CMU wireless network is protected from

undesirable activity, without requiring IT staff to physically

monitor each building on foot.

-- HIPAA-compliant WLAN security -- CMU required flexible

security options to support different user environments,

including the highest level of security for their campus

clinic. Airespace satisfied this requirement with multiple

layers of wireless protection, including support for WPA,

802.1x, IPsec, and other industry protocols.

-- Lower operational expenditures -- CMU has a small IT staff,

with little previous RF expertise. Airespace offered the best

planning, deployment, and management tools of all available

WLAN systems, making it easy and cost effective for CMU to

operate.

"Airespace's planning and deployment tools, coupled with its dynamic configuration capabilities, made WLAN systems deployment exceptionally easy," said Matt Hanna of BCS Networks, Airespace reseller and CMU's strategic integrator on this engagement. "By offering best-in-class WLAN capabilities, Airespace is a great addition to our product portfolio."

"Airespace is very attentive to the specific needs of educational institutions," said Steve Visconti, vice president of sales at Airespace. "We are pleased that Central Michigan University chose Airespace as a strategic partner for the delivery of secure, reliable WLAN services that will improve the educational experience on campus."

About Central Michigan University

Founded more than a century ago, Central Michigan University has evolved into a doctoral/research public university that is ranked among the best in the Midwest. CMU provides its growing student population with modern facilities and technology, faculty who are dedicated to student-centered teaching and research, and a selection of more than 170 programs at the bachelor's, master's, specialist's and doctoral levels. For information contact Ms. Pat Housley, CMU News Services, 989-774-3197.

About Airespace, Inc.

Airespace designs and develops intelligent wireless networking platforms that support business-critical applications. The company has set the standard for enterprise Wireless LANs, having earned Network Computing's "Editor's Choice Award," Network World's "World Class Award," Internet Telephony's "Product of the Year," and nomination as one of the "Best Wireless Products of 2003" in InfoWorld's Reader's Choice Awards. With dynamic RF management, air-tight security, seamless mobility, and support for real-time applications such as voice, Airespace helps enterprises implement secure Wireless LAN networks worldwide.

For more information on Airespace and its products, visit www.airespace.com or call 408-635-2000.

About BCS Networks, Inc.

BCS Networks, Inc., of Traverse City, Mich., a Network Integrator, designs and implements both wireless LAN and wireless WAN systems for their clients. Whether our clients' systems requirements are small or large, simple or complex, our certified and experienced engineering team will help them from the design phase through implementation and training.

In addition, BCS Networks has relationships with the industry's leading edge manufacturers and providers such as Avaya, Cisco Systems, SBC, AT&T, Adtran, Citrix, Novell, Microsoft, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Polycom, Tandberg, 3Com, and more. Our solutions include a full range of voice, data, and video products that allow us to design and install efficient and dependable systems.

For additional information please contact Bill Bradley of BCS Networks at 231-932-7001 or send an email to [e-mail].