For the enterprise solution, Motorola will provide the Wi-Fi/cellular dual-system phone and will create network mobility management components that control the hand-off between local WLAN and cellular networks. Avaya will deliver the session initiation protocol (SIP)-enabled IP telephony software, based on its MultiVantage Software, for the solution. Proxim's contribution to the joint effort is voice-enabled Wi-Fi WLAN infrastructure, quality of service software, and centralized management systems to facilitate hand-offs between access points.
Voice-enabled Wi-Fi infrastructure from Proxim and SIP-enabled communications applica-tions from Avaya are expected to be available early this year. Trials of the joint solution are expected to begin in the second half of this year.
"Today I really think we can bring a solution to market that addresses the needs of businesses that are finding themselves with mobile workforces," says Bo Pyskir, senior director of business development at Motorola. He says the battery life of the phones that will support Wi-Fi and cellular will be a challenge, but that Motorola expects to deliver a phone that offers these capabilities and has the battery life of a standard cell phone.
The total system is designed to help companies achieve cost savings through reduced capital expenses on different networks for different traffic types and reduced operational expenditures due to lower network management costs, says Angela Champness, senior vice president and general manager of Proxim's LAN division.
The group didn't provide a timetable for presenting more details about products for service providers related to this converged solution. However, Pyskir says, with the service provider version of the offering the switching and mobility management parts of the system will sit in the carrier's network to allow them to deliver a hosted solution to enterprises.
