April 15, 2009 -
Rapid Launch Hot Zone System(TM) helps MSOs grow commercial market share by offering indoor/outdoor hot zone services to businesses and reduce churn by offering subscribers mobile accessibility to MSO-branded high speed data services. Offered as centrally managed solution, Base configuration accommodates up to 2,500 simultaneous users, 16 SSID (Service Set identifier), and 8 virtual access points with individual service level configurability.
Wireless solution deploys in a day and pays back in as few as three months
SUWANEE, Ga., March 30 -- ARRIS (NASDAQ:ARRS) today announced the introduction of a centrally-managed Wi-Fi hot zone system that can be deployed quickly with payback on investment in as few as three months. Named Rapid Launch Hot Zone System(TM), this solution allows MSOs to grow commercial market share by offering managed indoor and outdoor hot zone services to businesses, and reduce churn by offering subscribers mobile accessibility to their MSO-branded high speed data services.
The Rapid Launch Hot Zone System is an integration of technology and components from three companies: ARRIS Solutions, BelAir Networks, and SolutionInc Limited. The base configuration is anchored by a CableLabs(R) DOCSIS(R) 2.0 qualified ARRIS C3 CMTS, however, additional C3 devices are not required if the service provider has ample, existing CMTS capacity. An Enterprise Hot Spot Management System from SolutionInc Limited provides centrally managed hot spot connectivity, authentication, billing and messaging capabilities; and Wireless Access Points from BelAir Networks provide Wi-Fi access coverage as stand-alone or networked devices. This base configuration can accommodate up to 2,500 simultaneous users, 16 SSID (Service Set identifier), and 8 virtual access points with individual service level configurability. The system allows virtually unlimited scalability by adding radios, enterprise servers, and CMTS capacity.
"Wi-Fi continues to grow worldwide, from coffee houses to college campuses and RV parks," said Tom Williams, Vice President Marketing & Business Development for ARRIS. "Our hot zone system enables technology from three great companies to help our customers rapidly increase revenue and decrease churn. We call it 'Wi-Fi Made Simple' because once venues are determined, our customers can literally be operational in a few hours."
Rapid Launch provides MSOs with robust capabilities including centralized management that enables operators to manage and bill numerous commercial customers, who may have hundreds or thousands of end users. It integrates with third party billing systems, and can accommodate multiple pay-per-use options including credit cards, email accounts, and access codes.
The system enables location-specific services which can consist of one venue or a group of venues under one account. Venues can be managed individually for billing, authentication, bandwidth, messaging, and marketing. Tiered bandwidth service offerings give MSOs the ability to charge premium rates for faster connections, and enhanced marketing features enable providers or their business customers to push specific marketing and advertising content on customized "welcome" and "registration" pages based on their locations.
"The patented technology we bring to the Rapid Launch System provides MSOs with an incredible amount of flexibility to fully manage numerous independent hot zones and thousands of users on one platform," said Natalie Doyle Oldfield, Chief Marketing Officer of SolutionInc Limited. "We have one of the most robust and reliable IP provisioning platform available today, and we're confident MSOs will find the engine remarkably easy to set up and manage."
Wireless Access Points can be pole or strand mounted anywhere MSO plant exists, making this an ideal solution for public area and municipal hotspots. MSOs can also offer managed hot spot solutions to businesses with singular or multiple locations. These hot zones can be branded by the MSO, or by the business using the service. Both MSO and business branded services coexist within the Rapid Launch System without disrupting basic consumer high-speed data traffic running on the network.
"BelAir Networks and ARRIS have been affiliated in bringing full featured, high capacity wireless solutions to MSOs for several years," said Dave Park, VP Product Marketing for BelAir Networks. "Our broadband wireless technology is perfect for the Rapid Launch Hot Zone System because it can scale with ARRIS CMTS devices and the SolutionInc Enterprise Management System to accommodate a virtually unlimited number of users."
The global hot spot market continues to provide opportunities for MSOs. According to the iPass Broadband Mobility Index, hot spots in Europe grew by 89% H1 2008 over H1 2007, while North America hot spots grew by 17% during the same period. Business Wi-Fi use in hotels grew by 66% , public Wi-Fi usage more than tripled, Wi-Fi usage in restaurants more than doubled, and locations used by commuters grew by nearly 80%. Hot zone traffic growth is driven, in part, by the rapid deployment of Wi-Fi enabled subscriber devices. According to Allied Business Intelligence (ABI), Shipments of Wi-Fi-enabled cellular handsets will double in volume by the end of 2010, compared to January 2008, and that growth curve is expected to continue through 2013. InStat has estimated that Portable Media Players shipped with Wi-Fi will grow to well over 100 million units in 2011 and cellular/Wi-Fi handsets will pass 300 million units by 2012.
ARRIS will demonstrate the Rapid Launch Hot Zone System in its booth #1121 at The Cable Show '09.
About ARRIS
ARRIS is a global communications technology company specializing in the design, engineering and supply of technology supporting triple- and quad-play broadband services for residential and business customers around the world. The company supplies broadband operators with the tools and platforms they need to deliver reliable telephony, demand driven video, next-generation advertising and high-speed data services. ARRIS products expand and help grow network capacity with access and outside plant construction equipment, reliably deliver voice, video and data services and assure optimal service delivery for end customers. Headquartered in Suwanee, Georgia, USA, ARRIS has R&D centers in Atlanta; Chicago; State College, PA; Beaverton, OR; Wallingford, CT; Cork, Ireland; and Shenzhen, China, and operates support and sales offices throughout the world. Information about ARRIS products and services can be found at www.arrisi.com.
About SolutionInc
SolutionInc Limited simplifies Internet connectivity. SolutionInc's patented software system allows people to easily and securely connect to the Internet from a hotel room, a convention center, or any type of Wi-Fi hotspot. The system allows the property or broadband provider to register users, to bill for service and show the user targeted messages. The company provides software and services to the hospitality and telecommunications industries. SolutionInc is recognized as one of the leaders of Internet connectivity and hotspot management. Headquartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, SolutionInc also has a sales office in Beijing, China. SolutionInc is a trademark and a wholly owned subsidiary of SolutionInc Technologies Limited (STL : TSX V) For more information visit www.solutioninc.com
About BelAir Networks
BelAir Networks is the technology and market leader delivering the industry's highest performance mobile broadband networking solutions for video, voice and data applications. Supporting the latest industry standards in the Wi-Fi, WiMAX, 4.9 GHz, 5.9 GHz and 4.4 GHz spectrum bands, BelAir Networks solutions are built on a patented modular architecture enabling multiple frequencies on a single network. BelAir Networks indoor and outdoor broadband wireless solutions deploy quickly, blending into the physical environment and integrating easily with existing infrastructure. Founded in 2001, BelAir Networks is a privately held company backed by investment from leading venture capital firms including Comcast Interactive Capital, T-Mobile Venture Fund and Trilogy Equity Partners. For more information about BelAir Networks products and customers, visit www.belairnetworks.com.
Contacts:
Marketing:
Sheila Burpee Duncan
USA
Phone: 613-254-7070 ext 134 E-mail this person
Public Relations:
SolutionInc
Natalie Doyle Oldfield
USA
Phone: 902-422-1647 E-mail this person
General Information:
Alex Swan
USA
Phone: 678-473-8327 E-mail this person Company Information: Name: ARRIS Address: 3871 Lakefield Dr., City: Suwanee, State: GA ZIP: 30024 Country: USA Phone: 800-469-6569 FAX: 770-622-8770 http://www.arrisi.com
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