Nomadix Joins Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance as First Dedicated Access Gateway Vendor

Business Wire, Oct 23, 2001

Business Editors & High-Tech Writers

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2001

Nomadix Becomes the First WECA Member Focused on Providing Internet Access Gateways That Enhance Wi-Fi Enterprise and Public Environments

Nomadix, the leading supplier of network access gateways, today announced its membership in the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA). WECA's mission is to certify interoperability of Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) products and to promote Wi-Fi as the global wireless local area network (WLAN) standard across all market segments.

The proliferation of Wi-Fi compatible adapters, access points and devices will drive the need for wireless connectivity in the enterprise and in public locations. Nomadix has identified and solved mobility and security issues created by this newly mobile population of users. The company's Network Service Engine (NSE(TM)) software enhances Wi-Fi compliant products such as enterprise access points.

Nomadix NSE enables configuration-free, secure network access (even in "open mode" wireless networks), provides enhanced security, and enables and enforces policy control in that network.

"WECA is a critical force in enabling broad-based wireless Internet access for enterprise, public and home networks by ensuring compatibility across all Wi-Fi devices," said Patrick Parker, CEO of Nomadix. "Nomadix will contribute to and work to enhance WECA initiatives to grow the market for secure, mobile network access in the office, on the road and in the home. WECA membership and committee participation ensures our involvement in the exploding 802.11 market."

"The Nomadix addition to WECA serves as evidence of the growing popularity of Wi-Fi and as wireless becoming the enterprise and public access technology of choice," said David Cohen, chairman of WECA. "Nomadix brings to WECA a wealth of expertise gathered from enabling ubiquitous network access in a variety of enterprise and public networks. We look forward to their contributions to the Wi-Fi initiative."

Nomadix Products

The Nomadix USG(TM) product is a dedicated networking access control gateway that delivers the company's NSE software to enhance mobility in Wi-Fi networks. Current wireless local area network products are adequate for closed and non-mobile network environments where all users are known in advance and where the network administrator must individually configure and provision users' computers. To enable open, mobile network access, a new solution is needed to automatically configure every user for the network, authenticate those users for access privileges, and monitor their network usage.

Using the Nomadix NSE software, the network manager can connect and provision every user without requiring problematic client software, secure the user's session and enforce user policies, such as bandwidth utilization or server access.

About the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance

Formed in 1999 as a nonprofit organization, the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) certifies interoperability of all Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) products and promotes Wi-Fi as the global wireless LAN standard across all market segments. WECA has instituted a test suite that defines how member products are tested to certify that they are interoperable with other Wi-Fi certified products.

An independent testing lab, Agilent's Silicon Valley Networking Lab Inc. (www.svnl.com), conducts the testing. When a product passes the test successfully, the company is granted the Wi-Fi seal of interoperability and may display the Wi-Fi logo on that product and its corresponding collateral material. This testing assures that products bearing the Wi-Fi logo will work with each other.

Membership in WECA is open to all companies who support the Wi-Fi standard, including any member manufacturer that would like to submit its Wi-Fi based product for interoperability testing. WECA's membership includes over 120 members.

For more information, visit www.wi-fi.org.

About Nomadix

Nomadix delivers network software and hardware products that enable the network manager to configure, secure and manage mobility -- one of the most pressing issues in wireless local area networks today. Nomadix' Network Service Engine software allows the network manager to automatically configure every user for network connectivity, securely authenticate those users for access privileges, and then monitor and enforce policy for their network usage.

In Nomadix-enabled networks, users receive secure, high-speed data services at their offices, on the road, in their homes -- virtually anywhere they go. For additional information, visit www.nomadix.com or call 800/666-2349.