Strix to help firms go 'truly wireless'

Strix Systems, a California-based company, has launched their solution Access/One Network for enterprises to go wireless. The company promises to make an enterprise 'truly wireless' with its third generation mesh topology based wireless LAN solution.

"Unlike the wireless solutions available, Access/One Network's mesh topology imitates the technology on which the Internet is based. Each node in the network is of an independent, intelligent nature, which cuts down on management costs involved in the network. Each node on its own decides on data transfer to the next node. Also, since all nodes are truly wirelessly linked, only one or two of them need to be connected to the Ethernet connection, unlike access points where each has to be connected to a wired connection," said Matt Holdrege, director, business development, Strix Systems.

According to him, the technology enables better total cost of ownership for the enterprise since it cuts down on unnecessary management costs incurred in maintaining the network, apart from doing away with the need for most wiring in buildings.

The solution can be more easily deployed than other wireless solutions, needing at best a floor plan to work out the position and a number of nodes needed. Also, the nodes are capable of being upgraded with single chip insertions as and when the standards have to be changed.

"The nodes have built-in modules and work on a number of users and throughput rather than distance. Each node can support up to 60 users which means on an average, an enterprise will have to deploy fewer nodes than access points to go wireless," said Holdrege.

The third generation wireless solution was comparable in cost to available wireless and wired solutions, needing an investment of Rs 20 lakh for connecting 300 people in an enterprise, he added.

The solution will be available in India through American Megatrends India (AMI), a BIOS, diagnostic tools and storage solutions provider. AMI itself is a relatively new entrant to the Indian market and plans on pushing its IP SAN storage solution, StorTrends iTX, along with Strix's solution as a product suite.

"We plan to have 15 partners in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad among other cities by 2005. We will branch out with this network in 2006 and expand our channel base. Around 20 people will be hired to manage the sales effort," said Jayaram Krishnan, CEO and director, AMI India.

The $75 million company has a development base in Chennai with 125 people, which will increase to 200 by the same time next year.

According to Krishnan, the company which targets Rs 400 crore and 10 per cent of the marketshare in SAN by 2009, is planning on opening a development facility in Bangalore in the next two years "as big as the one in Chennai".