VADition sells up to Exclusive Networks

Pan-European distributor Exclusive Networks has more than doubled its UK footprint by snapping up VADition for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition builds on the Paris-based group's 2009 acquisition of Arc Technology and VADition will now act as its 24/7 support centre for Europe.

Founded in 2006 by channel veterans Neil Ledger (pictured) and Ian Morris, VADition has grown rapidly to become a £34m distributor with vendor franchises including Fortinet, Isilion and Palo Alto.

Read more: http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/news/2082858/vadition-sells-exclusive-networks#ixzz1QkjNuLc9
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Schools Upgrade Wireless to Support the iPad

Given the thousands of innovative education applications designed specifically for tablets as well as the integrated learning experience such apps can offer, it’s no wonder that iPads and other mobile devices are entering K-12 schools at an aggressive rate. In some cases the schools have rolled tablets out to every student, and in other cases students and teachers are bringing personal devices from home. Either way, schools are upgrading their wireless networks to accommodate the influx.

Red Lion Area School District in Red Lion, Pennsylvania and Rainbow District School Board in Northern Ontario, Canada both recently upgraded their networks to better support iPads and other mobile devices. The chief concerns, of course, are higher demands for bandwidth and the need for stricter network security.

Red Lion Area School District (RLASD) deployed over 120 Meraki 802.11n access points (APs) across 11 locations, with the largest number of APs at the 3000-student senior high school. “We needed a wireless solution with centralized management that was customizable,” said John Lenhart, Network Manager at RLASD. “We also needed something affordable but that still had enterprise-level features like active directory RADIUS authentication and the ability for a protected guest network.”

Lenhart explained that RLASD didn’t have the budget for a 1:1 initiative and therefore wanted to allow staff and students to bring in tablets and mobile devices from home—but still wanted to be able to protect the network with port filtering and AD authentication. Meraki’s cloud-managed solution enabled Lenhart to create separate SSIDs for district-issued devices vs. personal devices while also utilizing splash login pages, SSID schedules (only broadcasting the network during school hours), and NAC for added security.

Lenhart can also see what devices are authenticating and who is doing what. Macs, PCs, iPads, and iPhones have all joined the network with no problems, though Lenhart is keeping an eye on his bandwidth. The RLASD network is averaging nearly 200 GB/week. “We’re using Meraki Traffic Shaper to throttle down the student networks a little bit,” he said.

Figure 1: Red Lion Senior High

“The high school is really leaning on the wireless with a lot of devices.” –RLASD Network Manager John Lenhart

Rod MacLeod, Manager of Information Services at Rainbow District School Board, also praised Meraki’s Traffic Shaper as a way to prioritize bandwidth for learning activities at the district’s nine high schools. “Application shaping is the future of how things will work, rather than the old days when we tried to do everything by port,” he said.

Like Lenhart, MacLeod chose to upgrade his network to meet increased demand. “We had provided laptops for teachers, and more students were bringing personal laptops, iPhones, and iPads to school,” he said.

At the same time, he had concerns about his inability to monitor or limit the network traffic occurring on these portable devices. Rainbow’s deployment of 157 Meraki 802.11n access points across nine high schools provided greater capacity in conjunction with centralized management and more sophisticated insight and control.

To read more about Rainbow District School Board’s deployment, check out the case study. If you want to prepare your school for the iPad and its interactive learning applications, check out the Meraki iPad web page, or register for the iPad webinar.

Nokia unveils first MeeGo handset

Nokia has unveiled a smartphone based around a technology that it has already started to sideline.

The N9 handset uses the MeeGo operating system even though Nokia has cut the staff and cash it put into the initiative. The mobile phone has a polycarbonate body and is controlled entirely via its touchscreen. Industry watchers said that its launch was "pointless" and would be hard to sell to consumers.'Pointless' launch Nokia started developing MeeGo in early 2010 and the project was supposed to combine the work it and Intel had done on using Linux open source software on handsets. MeeGo was intended to be the core platform on which many future Nokia phones, tablets and other consumer devices would be built.

However, this strategy changed in February 2011 following Nokia's decision to back Windows Phone 7 for its future smart phones. This led to the resignation of Alberto Torres who was in charge of MeeGo  velopment at the firm. The sidelining of MeeGo is thought to have been instrumental in the decision of Rich Green, Nokia's chief technology officer, to go on indefinite leave. Recent layoffs at the firm also saw many MeeGo developers leave Nokia. Nokia has not said when the N9 handset will go on sale.

"It seems pointless to launch a phone like the N9 on a platform that has been cut by management," said RBS analyst Didier Scemama in a research note.

Ben Wood, head of research at CCS Insight, said: "The strength of rival ecosystems leaves little room for MeeGo powered devices." "It's difficult to see the N9 being anything more than a niche device," he said. "The N9 will be a tough sell." Despite once reigning supreme in smartphone sales, Nokia's market share has declined as rivals Apple, Google, RIM and Microsoft rack up sales. The N9 was launched at an event in Singapore at which Nokia boss Stephen Elop repeated that Microsoft's phone software was now its key focus. Nokia was on target to release one Windows phone in 2011 and produce them "in volume" in 2012.

Mobile firms can trade spectrum

UK regulator Ofcom has given phone operators the green light to trade spectrum in a move intended to increase mobile network capacity. Available bandwidth is becoming a huge issue as smartphones put increasing demand on networks. The trading of airwaves comes ahead of a crucial spectrum auction next year that will usher in 4G data services. Both the auction and the decision to allow operators to trade existing spectrum have caused controversy.

Spectrum trading allows operators to sell off the airwaves they own in the 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz frequency bands. Historically the 900MHz slice of spectrum has belonged exclusively to O2 and Vodafone because they were the only two mobile operators on the market when it was handed out. While other nations have reallocated this spectrum to offer a more level-playing field ahead of 4G auctions, this has not happened in the UK. Ofcom had originally planned to redistribute the spectrum allocated to O2 and Vodafone, but was met with a legal action, initiated by the two operators.Lifeblood

Ofcom dropped its plans following the merger of T-Mobile and Orange.

Everything Everywhere (EE), the parent company of T-Mobile and Orange will be the biggest beneficiary of spectrum trading. It was required to sell off about 19 percent of its spectrum frequencies as a condition of the merger. Three is unhappy as it has the least spectrum to trade. "Spectrum is the lifeblood of smartphones and the mobile internet and for those with surplus holdings it is also a strategic asset, so voluntary trading is the exception," it said in a statement. "This move simply allows those who have been gifted access to public spectrum to profit from it, with no benefit for UK taxpayers."

Three will voice its concerns later today at a Department of Culture select committee hearing set up to discuss the way spectrum is being allocated.Further delays O2 and Vodafone are unlikely to sell off any of their assets, according to Matthew Howett, an analyst with research firm Ovum. "It is simply too valuable to them and they would only trade it if they were forced to," he said. What may force their hand is the upcoming 4G auction in which Ofcom has set caps on the amount that can be bought. It will mean the operators with more existing spectrum will be able to buy less of the more valuable 4G airwaves. Ofcom has also ring-fenced some of the spectrum for new entrants such as Three.

"It has done this because it recognised that 3 might not be able to survive and it values the disruptive nature of a player like 3," said Mr Howett. But O2 said it was tantamount to "state aid" and has threatened legal action.

Any further delays to the auction could put the UK behind other European countries in the roll-out of 4G services, said Mr Howett. 4G will be crucial as the market continues to grow.

According to Ofcom there are now 80 million mobiles in the UK, 12.8 million of which are smartphones.

App usage outstripping desktop and mobile web says Flurry

Mobile analytics firm claims its data shows people are spending 81 minutes a day using apps

Apps have overtaken web for per-user daily usage according to Flurry's figures

In June 2010, the average US mobile user spent 43 minutes a day usingapps. In June 2011, that has increased to 81 minutes.

That is the key finding from a new piece of research by mobile analytics firm Flurry, based on data from iPhone, BlackBerry, Windows Phone and Java handset owners.

Flurry claims that this means that mobile app usage has now overtaken desktop and mobile web usage in terms of minutes per day per user, citing comScore and Alexa statistics to show this is 74 minutes for web usage.

"This growth has come primarily from more sessions per user, per day rather than a large growth in average session lengths," explains the company in its blog post. "Time spent on the Internet has grown at a much slower rate, 16% over the last year, with users now spending 74 minutes on the Internet a day."

Flurry has also broken down the time spent per app category, revealing that 47% of app usage is gaming and 32% social networking, followed by news (9%), entertainment (7%) and other apps (5%).

"As we drill down into the data, consumers use these two categories more frequently, and for longer average session lengths, compared to other categories," explains Flurry. "Any way we slice it, Games and Social Networking apps deliver the most engaging experience on mobile today."

The company puts its research in the context of this month's rumours about Facebook's Project Spartan, which is expected to bring the social network's platform for games and other applications to the mobile web, and possibly to its native mobile apps.

Facebook's apps are already hugely popular on mobile, but its presence in mobile gaming is currently focused purely on use of its Facebook Connect API. Flurry thinks its stats show why Project Spartan will look to do more, and the company may well be right.

Flurry's figures are for US mobile users only.

Increase Enterprise iPad Utilization by 20%

Increase Enterprise iPad Utilization by 20%

Cloud Distribution News

Although I don't have any data or studies to prove this, I have a hunch that iPad utilization in enterprises could be enhanced by at least 10% and perhaps as much as 20% by extending its physical accessibility.
You're probably aware that iPad (without a case) is a slippery device. And while you can get far better grip on it when used with a case, it's still not ideal in certain work environments. In fact, some cases in certain realms actually create counter-productive outcomes. Desktop stands and docking solutions provide some degree of improved utilization, but only for office workers. Unfortunately a significant crop of information workers don't work at desks and many who work with information, also use their hands.


Increasing Accessibility
iPad use, and the benefits that go along with this new device in context with the emerging app-centric enterprise, can flourish in organizations if you add one additional level of agility –

the ability to stick the iPad to a solid surface.

A little company in Melbourne, Australia has had similar thoughts and has created a system for sticking up iPads where they can become more accessible and utilized more effectively. It's line of Wallee products include snap-on cases (hard shell plastic and very protective) and attachment accessories designed for a wide variety of environments.
Wallee is based on a simple design – a standardized wall "button" that really isn't required for walls at all. This little fastening button can be mounted on just about anything you can imagine; their customer photos clearly show some creativity with this mounting device and the new ideas emerging in the Wallee lab are impressive.

Wallee is simple, smart, and blends well with almost every environment. That's the key – finding ideas and ways where the synergy of a particular environment exposes the power of the magical iPad. This is more about techno-chemistry and less about the individual parts – Wallee and iPad.
As I've written in the past (see "iPad in Business: It's All About Utility"), iPad is well-versed in creating unique experiences. Wallee is equally well designed to allow those experiences to take happen in places that are environmentally challenged.

For example… every health club and corporate health facility should have a few Wallee's available for members. Setting aside the benefit of using some of the clever iPad exercise tracking systems, there are other business benefits that aren't so obvious such as employees staying on top of important activities easily, or the decreased likelihood that an iPad will be damaged in a workout center.

Imagine these scenarios just in the hospitality industry. Don't get me started on health care.

• Host/hostess workstation; limited workspace, constantly mobile.
• Housekeepers; constantly mobile, iPad affixed to the cleaning cart; used to track quality, tasks, checklists.
• Events and conferences staff; hang on wall between shifts; seamless flow of knowledge throughout the day.
• Resort hotel security; mount in vehicles, golf carts.
• Head chef; always in the kitchen; rarely at a desk, but in need of information about food supplies, schedules, reservations.
• Business center or concierge; mounted on counter for guests.

Businesses need to think outside the box to envision how to embrace iPad in specific physical environments.
Anywhere you see clipboards hanging on a wall – that's a clue where Wallee-affixed iPads should be hanging instead of this centuries-old device.

The Cloud and the Power of 'One'

One of the interesting things about the last 12-18 months is how the Cloud has put power into the hands of consumers. What I mean by this is, imagine the following scenario in the world pre-cloud:

"A user buys some software via the Internet or shrink-wrapped. It arrives and they install it. It either does not work for them or they cannot figure out how to use it so they basically write off the cash and don't use the app. End of story."

Now let's looks at what happens on Cloud:

"The user either buys an application from an app store (be it desktop or mobile), or a holiday from a holiday store, and then decides either the application is rubbish, the App does not work for them (or they have not RTFM) or they have had a bad experience on holiday. The user then uses social networks and/or the review forums on the app stores to comment on the bad experience"

In the latter case this "review" and negative experience puts off other people from trying the app / the holiday / the hotel, etc. In some cases it can mean the difference between continually selling a product or selling nothing as users look at the last bad review and then move somewhere else to continue their search to buy. One person can have the power to seriously undermine your whole product marketing and application strategy.

Multi-Tenancy Misconceptions in Cloud Computing

One of the biggest benefits of the cloud, ‘Dynamic Scaling,' goes hand-in-hand with multi tenancy. If your application has a fixed group of users, you can easily predict the server load and still handle it with a typical data center. However, a large number of users, basically multi tenants, makes the cloud platform most efficient in terms of usability of the application and ‘Do More With Less Resources.'

Some of the other characteristics of a typical multi-tenant application, benefited by Cloud are:

• Large global population working across time zones
• Quite possible that at any time 100% usage is not possible, but rather 70-80%
• Application serves a global common process for most, but yet is customizable for local needs

Multi Tenancy & Large Enterprises:
Many IT groups within the large enterprise including CXOs view multi-tenant applications as the one that hosts a disparate group of individuals or organizations. The main reason being the most successful cloud applications that come to mind are:

• Salesforce.com: a SaaS-based CRM application for various businesses using common framework and multi tenancy model
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online offering
• Multi-Tenancy IaaS/PaaS offerings from Amazon or IBM or Microsoft Azure

So the common misconception is that multi tenancy is all about resources shared by more than one organization. This leads to many discussions on Multi Tenancy Cloud, cut short by the stakeholders with the statement that ‘We Don't Need Multi Tenancy'.

However, through careful analysis of how the enterprise applications have been built and managed, we find that the multi tenancy is very much a feature of large enterprises, and utilizing a Private or Public cloud model with a multi-tenant attribute for their existing applications will definitely provide value for large enterprises.

Fourth time's a charm? Why Apple has trouble with cloud computing

On Monday, Apple unveiled iCloud, a new service for remote storage of user data. Some people, including our own Jon Stokes, are skeptical of Apple's chances of getting iCloud to work at scale. And history seems to be on their side. iCloud is at least Apple's fourth attempt to create a viable cloud computing service. The previous incarnations included iTools in 2000, .Mac in 2002, and MobileMe in 2008. As Fortune wrote about MobileMe a few weeks ago, "MobileMe was a dud. Users complained about lost e-mails, and syncing was spotty at best." iTools and .Mac were not exactly resounding successes either.

Apple's perennial difficulty with creating scalable online services is not a coincidence. Apple has a corporate culture that emphasizes centralized, developer-led product development. This process has produced user-friendly devices that are the envy of the tech world. But developing fast, reliable online services requires a more decentralized, engineering-driven corporate culture like that found at Google.

Triton Express Gains Truckloads of Network Visibility and Control with Expand Networks

Title: Layer 7 QoS and compression techniques maximise MPLS environment at freight specialist Triton Express in South Africa

Expand Networks www.expand.com, today announces that Triton Express has successfully increased visibility and control over its network traffic with Expand Networks’ Accelerators. Applying optimization techniques to support its customers in receiving an efficient, dependable and cost-effective service at all times, the freight specialist, Triton, now has a stable and more efficient network environment.

“With our MPLS contract, we are provided with class of service, but not true quality of service (QoS), which is common. We wanted to create our own QoS to be able to fully control voice, video and data traffic and gain full visibility into our network.  Expand showed me how I, as a user, can control all traffic on the network; marking packets into the MPLS last mile for granular QoS and control. This is enabling us to have three different classes of service, all now running at the cost of data class."

Craig Comins, National IT Manager, Triton Express

When 24×7 Isn’t a Good Thing: New SSID Schedules!

Easy Internet access for guests makes WiFi a very attractive amenity for many retailers and restaurants, where it can be a differentiator in a crowded market of competitors.  Libraries and schools are now expected to offer ubiquitous wireless access across their campuses and often want to offer free WiFi to the local community.  The ease of deployment and trouble-free management of Meraki WiFi networks make it simple to deploy guest access across all of these types of organizations and more.

However, sometimes administrators don’t want to offer free wireless access around the clock.  An open WiFi network can mean that folks hang around in the parking lot long after business hours, causing complaints from residential or business neighbors.  With Meraki’s new Scheduled SSID feature for Enterprise networks, administrators can automatically turn an SSID off outside of a set schedule without the need to even log into Dashboard.  Standard templates are available for typical business hours, or a custom schedule can be created for each individual day.

This feature can be found on the new SSID Availability page.  We’ve also moved the controls for hiding an SSID to this page as well from the Access Control page to make it easy to find all SSID broadcast-related controls.

Cloud announce new vendor partner - fromdistance - Cloud-enabled Mobile Device Management

~click the logo to visit the microsite~

As you know, devices like iPad and iPhone are driving the adoption of Wireless LAN services. The security of the data which resides on these devices, and their propensity to be lost or stolen, means the security and management of these devices is becoming absolutely critical to your clients business strategy.

fromdistance have a unique value proposition to channels who have clients wanting to secure, manage and control their BYO (Bring Your Own) or company supplied smartphone and/or tablet estate. Provisioning, policy enforcement, monitoring and remote lock/wipe/kill are just some of the core features fromdistance delivers.

The solution can be sold in one of 3 ways:

1.     SAAS based, per device, per month using the fromdistance hosted platform 

2.     Self-Hosting whereby you, as the service provider, are able to host your own platform and white label it as your own 

3.     Behind the Firewall / LAN based Virtual Appliance for clients who are keen to keep control and security in house 

No other MDM (Mobile Device Management) vendor offers all three options. 

Devices supported include:

·         Apple iOS - including iPhone, iPad & iPod Touch

·         Blackberry - alongside an existing BES deployment

·         Android - Any flavour, any form factor

·         Windows Mobile - including Windows Mobile 7

·         Symbian

Microsite - http://www.cloud-distribution.com/fromdistance

Partner Price List - http://www.cloud-distribution.com/other/docs/fromdistance/fromdistance_pl.pdf

Data Sheet - http://www.cloud-distribution.com/other/docs/fromdistance/fromdistance_ds.pdf

Feature Overview - http://www.cloud-distribution.com/other/docs/fromdistance/fromdistance_features.pdf

Cloud are keen to have interested partners evaluate the solution (in all three guises) in mid June so please let us know if this is something you'd be willing to do ?

Best regards

Scott Dobson
Cloud Distribution Ltd
+44 (0) 1635 800410
+44 (0) 1635 800411 (DDI)
+44 (0) 7740 282182 (Mobile)

Join Us: http://bit.ly/joincloud

This e-mail is confidential and is intended for the use of the addressee only. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use or dissemination of this communication or any part of it is strictly prohibited. If you receive this transmission in error, please notify Cloud Distribution Ltd immediately using the contact details above and then delete this e-mail. Please note that e-mail may be susceptible to data corruption, interception and unauthorised amendment. Cloud Distribution Ltd do not accept any liability for any such corruption, interception, amendment or the consequences thereof. 

Cloud Distribution Ltd, 1210 Parkway, Arlington Business Park, Theale, Reading, Berkshire RG7 4TY

Are iPad Deployments Simply Inevitable?

Apple’s iPad has continued to be in strong demand and this shows no sign of slowing down. Its popularity isn’t limited to the consumer market, and enterprises continue to adopt the device as a business tool. During our recent iPad webinar, our audience confirmed the iPad is continuing to gain traction in the enterprise.

While discussing second quarter results, Apple’s COO Tim Cook noted:

Employee demand for iPad in the corporate environment remains strong and CIOs continue to embrace iPad in an unprecedented rate. In just over a year since its debut, 75% of the Fortune 500 are testing or deploying iPad within their enterprises. Some recent examples of enterprises that are deploying iPad include FORTUNE 500 companies such as Xerox, AutoNation, Yum! Brands, ADP, Boston Scientific, Estée Lauder, Disney, Stryker, Prudential Financial, Rite Aid and USAA.
Transcript excerpt courtesy of Seeking Alpha.

We asked our May 26th webinar audience about their own adoption and deployment plans for the iPad, and this is how they responded:

The results closely correlate with Tim Cook’s remarks. In our survey, 71% of organizations have either already deployed the iPad or are testing it in their networks. Another 26% are still evaluating and have not solidified their plans.

Even if you haven’t started officially deploying or supporting the iPad, perhaps you’d like to know how many users have brought their own iPads and access the wireless network. Using the Meraki dashboard, it’s really simple to see the iPadsthat have logged on and what kind of impact they have. If you’re looking for practical tips on integrating the iPad in your wireless network, check out our iPad whitepaper.

CRN News - Wireless market soars in Q1

The wireless LAN (WLAN) market enjoyed a bumper start to 2011, with both the B2B and retail segments posting annual sales growth of more than 20 per cent.

Research from IDC found that global wireless revenue in Q1 was up 20.7 per cent year on year to $1.35bn (£824m). Retail sales spiked 21 per cent to $751m, while the enterprise market grew 20.3 per cent.

Sales of 802.11n technology remain strong. Some 18 months after the n standard was ratified, the technology now accounts for more than three quarters of all B2B shipments.

On the vendor front, Cisco enjoyed enterprise WLAN sales growth marginally above market levels, but its consumer Linksys brand posted a muted 7.2 per cent growth rate. 

It was a similar story for HP, whose Q1 WLAN revenue grew at 14.4 per cent annually, more than six points behind the market rate. Aruba, on the other hand, enjoyed a stonking quarter, with sales – including OEM revenue – growing a massive 85.9 per cent year on year.

Rohit Mehra, director of enterprise communications infrastructure at IDC, said: "The continued strength in the WLAN market in the first quarter of 2011 was encouraging, with all regions and both the enterprise- and retail-class market segments making a contribution. The tremendous momentum behind smart mobile devices and their continued uptake in the enterprise for business applications are driving enterprises to move forward with upgrades, extensions and replacements of their wireless infrastructures."

Read more: http://www.channelweb.co.uk/crn-uk/news/2075684/wireless-market-soars-q1#ixzz1O8FFP4KK 

CRN - Essential information for VARs, integrators and converged resellers. Claim your free subscription today.

Oxfam Australia boosts performance with Expand Networks Acceleration

Integrated WAN Optimization technology enables reliable and stable connectivity for charity staff and volunteers Oxfam Australia, the humanitarian charity, has deployed Expand Networks Accelerators across its international network of offices. The solution is assuring the performance of the charity’s network, connectivity and applications in support of staff activity between its Australian and overseas operations. “Expand’s ability to monitor, optimize, and control interactive RDP sessions and apply QoS techniques to protect VoIP also helped the product standout during evaluation. We immediately set up a trial between our head office an overseas site with poor connectivity, and we found Expand provided the acceleration to support our users’ connectivity needs,” Grant Holton-Picard, Technical Infrastructure Manager

To view the press release, please click here

When 24×7 Isn’t a Good Thing: New SSID Schedules!

Easy Internet access for guests makes WiFi a very attractive amenity for many retailers and restaurants, where it can be a differentiator in a crowded market of competitors.  Libraries and schools are now expected to offer ubiquitous wireless access across their campuses and often want to offer free WiFi to the local community.  The ease of deployment and trouble-free management of Meraki WiFi networks make it simple to deploy guest access across all of these types of organizations and more.

However, sometimes administrators don't want to offer free wireless access around the clock.  An open WiFi network can mean that folks hang around in the parking lot long after business hours, causing complaints from residential or business neighbors.  With Meraki's new Scheduled SSID feature for Enterprise networks, administrators can automatically turn an SSID off outside of a set schedule without the need to even log into Dashboard.  Standard templates are available for typical business hours, or a custom schedule can be created for each individual day.

This feature can be found on the new SSID Availability page.  We've also moved the controls for hiding an SSID to this page as well from the Access Control page to make it easy to find all SSID broadcast-related controls.

What do spark plugs and WLAN solutions have in common?

It’s not the most daring and cutting-edge prediction to say 2011 will be Wi-Fi’s second coming. However, you might be caught off guard when I tell you to not worry about a vendor’s WLAN architecture.

Your business needs will flush out the right one. Despite the initial hype seven years ago that Wi-Fi was going to be the new edge, it’s been the second choice for most users to connect with at work — but that will change.

A tidal wave of wireless devices will be crashing through the enterprise front door very soon. Just look at the carriers scrambling to build out their infrastructure — there’s no shortage of stories about AT&T and their build-out of Wi-Fi in metropolitan areas.

And users have fused their work and personal phones and are looking to seek coverage from carrier data plans.

The time to start was yesterday, and you have a ton of work to do. Your edge will be servicing:

• Employees with corporate netbooks and their own smartphones and/or tablets who watch training videos on YouTube from companies like VMware.
• Devices like torque tools, temperature sensors in exothermic chambers, ambient light sensors, and a myriad other devices.
• Contractors with their own laptops, netbooks, tablets, and/or smartphones who need access to specific company applications.
• Guests like account executives entering customer information into their CRM programs.
• All the things being developed at venture capital backed incubators.

The industry is still evolving. We started with distributed architecture with uncoordinated and intelligent access points then moved to a centralised one with coordinated and thin access points (APs). The pendulum is starting to swing back to distributed and intelligent APs, except now they’re coordinated.

Management, data, and control planes have gotten more sophisticated to coordinate data, users, and management between each access point instead of having a controller figure it out.
Aerohive and Meraki Networks offer distributed solutions, and the other vendors have been mudslinging. At one time Proxim and Cisco’s Aironet marketing teams tore into Aruba’s and Symbol’s controller-based architecture. Have you seen a Proxim AP attached to a ceiling in a while?

These types of arguments remind me of the auto wars in the late ’70s and early ’80s. US auto manufacturers railed against front-wheel drive cars; most of them were foreign. Now, front-wheel drive architecture dominates auto sales, and US auto manufacturers produce more FWD than RWD. There’s a place for each type — as with wireless architectures.

For example, a cloud-based vendor, Meraki, offers a compelling value proposition. I’ve spent a lot of time with state, local, and education customers who have limited resources. A cloud-based solution from Meraki in which the users wouldn’t have to reconfigure their network for controller redundancy or set up a server for management would be ideal.

Most k-12 infrastructure and operational professionals wear networking, server, and help desk hats all at the same time. A solution with less moving parts with comparable features would be nirvana for them.

There are a lot of vendors and great solutions available for every type of company. Meraki and Aerohive might not be close in size to the market leaders today, but look what happened to the market leaders of yesterday. To woo you, larger and more established vendors with a zillion features have a tendency to direct you to the latest and coolest features like RF analysers.

In many instances, most of the “new” features are an insignificant piece of the overall solution. For example, I can choose to put iridium rather than copper spark plugs in my engine to increase performance, or I can take advantage of other mundane modifications: keeping tires at the right pressure, ensuring the air filter is clean, changing out the exhaust, or putting in a performance chip.

Any of those can create a magnitude of difference in horsepower and mileage compared with precious metal spark plugs — and even for a lot less money.

Are you using all the features you were sold? What are the top three features your organisation can’t live without? Any ones that didn’t work the way you expected?