Wireless and conferencing technologies also are garnering attention at this year’s Demo show.
Wireless and conferencing technologies also are garnering attention at this year’s Demo show .
Meru Networks is taking a page out of the cell phone providers’ playbook with its new wireless LAN (WLAN) architecture.
The Cellular WLAN Architecture aims to eliminate the problems with interference that today’s WLAN networks suffer.
The new system features the AP 200 access point and the MC 1000 centralized controller. Using a series of algorithms Meru developed, the WLAN monitors the radio frequency spectrum. “Every access point knows what the other access point is doing on the system,” says Joel Vincent, director of marketing. “This avoids interference without having to do site surveys or channel planning.”
Vincent says the reliability of the network allows you to run voice calls over wireless without worrying about problems. “The access points can coordinate and make sure that those calls don’t run into each other.”
Meru used the cellular network, in which base stations and base station controllers work together to coordinate calls, as its guide.
Convoq plans to unveil its latest service, Convoq ASAP, an easy-to-use conferencing tool that combines instant messaging, e-mail and conferencing services.
Kim Shah, vice president of marketing and business development, says the challenge for IT managers with conferencing is managing scarce resources. He says each company might purchase a certain number of ports, but if more people want to jump on the conference they are out of luck. “There’s no ad hoc mode for these tools,” he says.
Convoq ASAP lets users access conferences via a Flash window, a Webcam and a headset, with only the host needing the conferencing software. Melded with instant messaging features, Convoq ASAP allows users to quickly initiate a live meeting with video and audio or just video. They also can use presentations via Macromedia’s SWF file conversion.
Shah says product managers can use this tool to gather their team on-the-fly and update them on new enhancements, or teachers could post office hours for their students.
Another feature of Convoq ASAP lets users post an “I’m available” link on the Web so that they can be accessed quickly. “If I have a blog, I can post this link and then allow readers to ask questions,” Shah says.
Convoq ASAP Express, which stands for “as soon as present,” will be available for free for a two-person conference. ASAP Professional costs $250 per year for 15 people to have unlimited conferences. ASAP Conference, which lets companies do Webinars, is available for an unlimited number of 50-attendee sessions for $2,500, per year.
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