Wireless Networks: Taking the Fast Lane to IP Mobility

Integrating wireless and wired networks is a priority for IT departments, whether or not the enterprise is ready. Employees’ mobility needs—and challenges posed by rogue wireless access points (APs)—outpace the wireless efforts of slow-moving enterprises. Most enterprises are sprinting to add APs and to secure their wireless LANs (WLANs).

Some enterprises are moving into the fast lane, toward universal network mobility: wireless and wired access to IP-based LANs, WANs, and convergence applications. Many of these advanced enterprises are 3Com customers. 3Com innovations in WLANs, network security, Voice over IP (VoIP), and network convergence offer IP mobility solutions for enterprises of all sizes.

Network trends for 2005 and beyond make it urgent for enterprises to deploy IP mobility solutions that overcome the inadequacies of cellular phones (e.g., application and security limitations, poor sound quality, and high expense). Today, virtually all new corporate laptops have mobility capabilities. By 2006, the majority of U.S. workers will be mobile. By 2008, 50 percent of enterprises will have wireless e-mail in place. By 2010, 80 percent of key business processes will involve mobile workers exchanging real-time information. The 3Com ® Wireless Switching Solution and convergence applications help IT groups provide seamless and secure IP mobility by delivering it in two dimensions:

1. Physical mobility: Users can move between networks, connecting and reconnecting using the WLAN, LAN, WAN, Internet, or PSTN (SS7). The connection cost is a small fraction of a conventional cellular network connection, which can also be used for roaming outside the enterprise network.
2. Identity portability: The user can roam across networks while retaining a single identity for access, such as one phone number that is inherited by all devices that the employee may use.

3Com wireless switching innovations include secure and non-disruptive roaming and powerful WLAN management. 3Com wireless LAN switches support network services based on user identity instead of ports or devices, allowing seamless roaming between IP subnets and VLANs. The wireless switches can also share user profiles and databases to authorize a roaming user based on a single sign-on. For comprehensive centralized AP management and control, web-based 3Com Wireless Switch Manager software provides all the features needed to plan, configure, deploy, and manage 3Com wireless LANs.

Find out more about 3Com wireless network solutions or call us at 1-800-638-3266.

Meta Group: “How to Succeed in Mobile Initiatives”, January 6, 2004, Report #Practice 2146

IDC: “Managing the Mobility Imperative: Enterprises Embrace Mobility Strategies to Achieve Competitive Advantage”, 2004

Meta Group: “Wireless E-Mail: TCO versus ROI: Part 1”, October 6, 2004, Report #Delta 308

Gartner: “Enterprises Must Assess Impact of Mobile Applications”, December 22, 2003, Report #DF-21-4374