Pronto Networks Announces Support for Microsoft Wireless Provisioning Services.Business Editors/High-Tech Writers ITU (International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland, www.itu.ch) A telecommunications standards body that is under the auspices of the United Nations. Comprising more than 185 member countries, the ITU sets standards for global telecom networks. TELECOM WORLD 2003 GENEVA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 13, 2003 New Technology Improves Sign Up Experience and Enhances Security for Mobile Windows Users at Public Wi-Fi Hot Spots Pronto Networks, a leading provider of carrier-class OSS Oss (ôs), city (1994 pop. 62,141), North Brabant prov., S Netherlands; chartered 1399. It is a significant industrial center. Manufactures include meat products, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electrical equipment, and metalware. solutions for large Wi-Fi hot spot networks, today announced that its public Wi-Fi Operations Support System (OSS) supports the Microsoft Wireless Provisioning Services (WPS) technology that provides Windows XP users a seamless sign up process, making their wireless connections at public hot spots easier and more secure. Pronto's support for this standard provides wireless ISPs (WISPs) an integrated platform to easily provision and manage users on public hot spot networks. WPS technology, announced today by Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT MSFT Microsoft (stock symbol) MSFT Movimento Sociale Fiamma Tricolore (Italy) MSFT Multi-Stage Fitness Test MSFT Master of Science in Family Therapy MSFT Macalester Students for Fair Trade ), was launched to address the fragmented user experience and security challenges at public hot spots today. WPS allows WISPs to seamlessly and automatically provision and configure a mobile client used to connect to the Internet or corporate network, thus offering a consistent sign up experience for users with every connection. "With Microsoft's WPS architecture, the front-end sign on process is greatly simplified and made more secure," said Jasbir Singh, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Pronto Networks. "With Pronto's OSS, all back-office functions, including network deployment and service management, are significantly simplified. Together, Microsoft and Pronto now provide an end-to-end architecture that offers auto-provisioning and configuration features that will enhance the end-user experience." Pronto's OSS runs on Microsoft server platforms and supports multiple authentication schemes, including Microsoft IAS (RADIUS), LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) A protocol used to access a directory listing. LDAP support is implemented in Web browsers and e-mail programs, which can query an LDAP-compliant directory. , and .NET Passport. Other supported WPS requirements include a two-phased secure access authentication beyond IP address filtering which enables ad hoc users to easily login and self-provision their services. In the future, Pronto plans to integrate its current XML-based capabilities in support of Microsoft's built-in Hot Spot Directory and branding capabilities. Both Pronto's OSS and Microsoft's WPS leverage XML schemas and web services. "Microsoft and Pronto Networks are dedicated to supporting industry standards, such as 802.1X, Protected Extensible Authentication (PEAP See EAP. ) and Wi-Fi Protected Access (networking, security) Wi-Fi Protected Access - (WPA) A security scheme for wireless networks, developed by the networking industry in response to the shortcomings of Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). (WPA WPA: see Work Projects Administration. WPA in full Works Progress Administration later (1939–43) Work Projects Administration U.S. work program for the unemployed. ), to improve ease of use and make wireless connections at public Wi-Fi hot spots secure," said Shai Guday, group program manager of Windows Networking and Communications at Microsoft. "Wireless Provisioning Services builds on these standards, enabling network operators to automatically provision and configure mobile clients to create a consistent sign-up and connectivity experience." WPS will be available to registered Windows XP users via the Windows Update site in the first quarter of 2004. Pronto's OSS support of WPS in its OSS platform will be available in the same timeframe. About Pronto Networks Pronto Networks, based in Pleasanton, Calif., provides carrier-class Operations Support Systems Operations Support Systems (also called Operational Support Systems or OSS) are computer systems used by telecommunications service providers. The term OSS most frequently describes "network systems" dealing with the telecom network itself, supporting processes such (OSS) that enable network operators to deploy and manage large public hot spot networks. The company's software handles provisioning, configuration, authentication, access control, security, pre-paid and post-paid billing, and roaming settlement for large public WLAN See wireless LAN. WLAN - wireless local area network networks, in addition to remotely managing and updating multi-vendor hardware and Wi-Fi switches. Pronto Networks is funded by Draper Fisher Jurvetson Draper Fisher Jurvetson (DFJ) is a venture capital firm based in Menlo Park, California with affiliate offices in more than 30 cities around the world and over $4.5 billion in capital commitments. and the Intel Communications Fund. In 2003, Pronto Networks has received several awards including Wired Magazine's Top 25 Wi-Fi Companies to Watch, the AlwaysOn list of Top 100 Private Companies, and Computerworld's Innovative Technology Awards. For more information about Pronto Networks, please visit www.prontonetworks.com. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. |
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