WIRELESS FROM PAGE 27 but now [with the Net- AirMagnet would bea bet- another overlay vendor.
And since Network work Chemistry acqui- ter fit for Siemens, given And starting from scratch
Chemistry was looking to si tion and Ai r Magnet Air Magnet’s ne w profi- means being several years
leave the WIPS businessto partnership], it is greatly ciency at voice-over-Wi-Fi behind the current indus-
concentrate on its upcom- enhanced.” analysis, Siemens has har- try standard.
ing Project Wishbone, the vested crops from this field For Bluesocket, any purchase price—although Watching Aruba before, as the company’s potential ramifications
undisclosed—was prob- if aruba’s move pays current HiPath wireless from the Network Chem-
ably quite affordable. early dividends, other portfolio has its roots in istry acquisition will
Just before the Network wireless infrastructure technology acquired from likely be spun as part of
Chemistry acquisition, companies will have to Chantry Networks—which its continuing evolution
Aruba also announced pay heed. was funded in part by Sie- from a dedicated wire-
a partnership with wire- While most wireless in- mens Venture Capital. less security platform to a
less overlay vendor Air- frastructure vendors are Meanwhile, Cisco has a wireless application deliv-
Magnet. However, Aruba probably not financially wide range of experience ery platform. In late July,
licensedonly AirMagnet’s able to buy an overlay with WIPS vendors; the Bluesocket acquired VOIP
company used to part- company Pingtel. Leverag-
ner with AirDefense for ing Pingtel’s experience in
its legacy Aironet archi- both enterprise-grade (SIP-
tecture and will soon xchange) and open-source
support Air Tight for its (SIPx and SIPfoundry) tele-
WLAN controllers. phony, Bluesocket plans
AirDefense AirMagnet AirTight Aruba/Network Chemistry Given the prolifera- to parlay this move into a
tions of partnerships complete voice-over-Wi-Fi
Bluesocket between infrastructure and fixed-mobile conver-
Xirrus and overlay compa- gence solution.
nies, acquisitions will For its part, Aruba
have some very nega- stated that it will continue
tive effects for smaller to serve Network Chem-
wireless infrastructure istry’s current custom-
companies. ers, presumably mean-
Source: e WEEK reporting For instance, Aruba’s ing direct customers and
acquisition of Network integration partners alike.
best-in-class wireless and company, there are a few Chemistry has a direct Likewise, Aruba will con-
Tight relationships
Here is a sampling of the synergistic partnerships between wireless infrastructure vendors and companies providing security and
monitoring overlay networks:
Motorola Aruba
Nortel Divitas
Trapeze
Enterasys
3Com
Cisco
Colubris
Extreme Networks
Siemens
Extricom
RF analysis capabili- big fish in the pond that effect on both Bluesocket tinue to offer Network
ties, while forgoing Air- could snap up the few and 2006 eWeek Excel- Chemistry’s technology
Magnet’s WIPS features, remaining standout over- lence Awards winner as a stand-alone product
so Aruba representatives lay companies. Xirrus; both companies while it continues to work
said they don’t see any For instance, Siemens have relied on Network toward baking the fea-overlap there. Venture Capital owns a Chemistry’s technology tures into Aruba’s regular
“The future of security, stake in Air Tight Net- for over-the-air intrusion product line.
especially with wireless, is works, a company known prevention capabilities. “Those companies that
with integrated solutions,” specifically for its intru- choose to come along for said Michael Tennefoss, sion prevention capabili- Difficult choices the ride, we will continue
vice president of market- ties. Siemens Venture both bluesocket and to support,” Tennefoss said.
ing for Aruba, in Sunny- Capital is a subsidiary Xirrus are faced with “Those that don’t for what-vale, Calif. of Siemens AG, which tough decisions. They ever reason, that’s their
“There is so much in- is heavily promoting its must choose between choice. But it won’t be for
formation that you can own wireless equipment continuing a partnership lack of support from us.” ´
gather from the wireless with an eye to the future with a direct competitor
LAN that you cannot get of VOIP (voice over IP) or starting from scratch— Senior Analyst Andrew Gar-
as a stand-alone overlay,” integration and fixed- either by developing the cia can be reached at andrew.
Tennefoss said. “We had mobile convergence. technology in-house or by garcia@ziffdavisenterprise.
the capability before, While I wouldarguethat forging an alliance with com.
