Control Systems link 802.11 wireless LANs to CDMA networks.December 9, 2002 - AAA Service Controller provides authentication, authorization, and accounting across multiple access technologies, including CDMA 2000 1X, dial, DSL, and 802.11. Usage is attributed to user regardless of credentials and protocols used to gain access. Revenue Collector and Revenue Formatter collect and aggregate usage detail records into session records. They filter, format and stream session records to appropriate billing and settlement systems. User Session Controller prevents 802.11 account sharing.
(Archive News Story - Products mentioned in this Archive News Story may or may not be available from the manufacturer.)
Original Press release
Bridgewater Systems Inc.
555 Legget Drive
Kanata, ON, K2K 3J1
Canada
Bridgewater Systems Enables CDMA Carriers to Link 802.11 Wireless LANs to CDMA Networks
Working With Nortel Networks to Bring Products to Market
KANATA, Ontario - Dec. 3, 2002 - Bridgewater Systems, a provider of IP network, service and access control solutions for service providers, today announced that its products enable the linking of CDMA and 802.11 wireless LAN (WLAN) environments while providing subscribers with a single sign-on and single bill.
In addition, to bring 802.11 solutions to market more rapidly, the company said it is working with Nortel Networks, a leading provider of packet core and Internet Protocol (IP) enabled wireless infrastructures, to test the interoperability of Nortel Network CDMA technology with its own product suite (See Nortel Networks press release: Nortel Networks to Link WiFi Networks with CDMA, GPRS, and UMTS Mobile Networks).
Bridgewater Systems products help carriers address complex 802.11 service and usage-sensitive billing challenges through the following offerings:
• AAA Service Controller provides authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) for users across multiple access technologies, including CDMA 2000 1X, dial, DSL and 802.11. A user can have different credentials for each access type and may authenticate using different protocols, including EAP/MD5 and EAP/LEAP in the case of 802.11. Usage is always correctly attributed to the user regardless of the credentials and protocols used to gain access.
• Revenue Collector and Revenue Formatter collect and aggregate usage detail records into session records. They then filter, format and stream the session records to the appropriate billing and settlement systems.
• User Session Controller prevents 802.11 account sharing-a necessity for flat-rate billing models.
802.11 technology is complementary to CDMA-it can provide access inside buildings and in high-density traffic areas. Given this rapidly developing market, carriers are seeking capabilities to enable them to track usage and develop new billing plans for combined CDMA and 802.11 access. Bridgewater's product suite allows service providers to seamlessly authenticate a user roaming from a CDMA to an 802.11 network, to authorize the use of each access technology, and to collect and format accounting records detailing the user's usage on each of the respective technologies (even allowing the access to be billed at different rates). The result is independent of the access technology and formatted in a manner conforming to the billing infrastructure.
Nortel Networks CDMA technology will enable CDMA operators to provide WLAN services to their customers using existing CDMA2000 1X core network equipment. In working with Bridgewater Systems, Nortel Networks CDMA technology enables common authentication and billing between the CDMA2000 1X network and the WiFi network, allowing a single "sign-on" for the customer and a single bill. CDMA carriers can choose to deploy their own WLAN access networks or act as a virtual network operator through WLAN access wholesalers or aggregators.
"Our 802.11 wireless LAN capabilities in conjunction with Nortel Networks technology enable CDMA carriers to offer subscribers access to high bandwidth WLAN connections wherever hotspots are set up," said Derek Smyth, president and CEO of Bridgewater. "We believe carriers are well positioned to offer subscribers these services since they already have existing billing relationships with them. And we're in a tremendous position to help, since our product suite is scalable and reliable, ensuring that carriers can support large numbers of users distributed across large geographies."
More information about Bridgewater and its products will be available at the CDMA Americas Congress event in San Diego, CA, Dec. 3-5, 2002, Booth #118.
About Bridgewater Systems (www.bridgewatersystems.com)
Bridgewater Systems provides IP network, service and access control solutions that enable service providers to take full advantage of the revenue potential of their networks. Its software enables service providers to differentiate access to wireline and wireless services based on the identity of the user or the application, solving problems such as how to comprehensively account and track for services and prevent unauthorized access. Unlike competitive offerings, Bridgewater's solutions work within any vendor network, regardless of the type of authentication system; offer extensive revenue capture capabilities to complement existing billing engines; and can be rapidly deployed. These differentiators enable customers to reduce network costs, increase revenues and rapidly deploy new customer-focused services.
Bridgewater Systems products are currently deployed by top-tier global service providers such as Bell Mobility, Qwest, Covad, and Telia. Founded in 1997, Bridgewater Systems is a privately held company.
For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Sheri Bailey
Bridgewater Systems
Communications Manager
Tel: 613-591-6655
Email:mailto: sheri.bailey@bridgewatersystems.com
George Cohen
George Cohen Communications, Inc.
Tel: 617-325-0011
Email: george@gccpr.com
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