New Sputnik Wi-Fi Gateway and Access Point Firmware Reduce Cost of Building and Managing Large Wireless Networks; Remote Management of Bridged Access Points at No Added Cost

Business Wire, Sept 19, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO -- Sputnik, a leading independent provider of Wi-Fi network management software and services, today announced the Sputnik Gateway 700(TM) and Sputnik Agent NMS(TM). Together, these products enable wireless service providers to build and easily expand high-capacity Wi-Fi networks with centralized management of subscribers and devices.

The cost-effective Sputnik Gateway 700 works with Sputnik Control Center software or the SputnikNet service to centralize user authentication, usage tracking, network policy, and business rules for large, high-traffic public wireless networks. Sputnik Gateway 700 pricing starts at $499. Details are on www.sputnik.com.

Sputnik Agent NMS is free firmware that provides remote management functions on Wi-Fi access points (APs). Additional Wi-Fi APs can be added to expand the network; these are managed by Sputnik Control Center at no extra software cost. Sputnik Agent NMS significantly reduces the difficulty of monitoring bridged APs on the private LAN side of the Sputnik Gateway 700, or other gateways. In conjunction with Sputnik Control Center software, it also enables plug 'n play AP provisioning. When APs are plugged into broadband they receive their configuration information and appear in Sputnik Control Center's central management interface.

"As Wi-Fi continues to gain in popularity, service providers are experiencing traffic growth on their networks," said David LaDuke, Sputnik's CEO. "We designed the Sputnik Gateway 700 to help them meet this increased demand. With Sputnik Agent NMS they can manage their entire network without spending any more on software."

Customer in Iraq Supporting US Troops

While the leading markets for Sputnik wireless management solutions are hospitality, transportation, and education, Sputnik-powered wireless networks are a growing presence wherever Internet connectivity needs to be easily accessible and quick to deploy. At the largest US troop support hub in Iraq, near Balad Airbase, Balad Networks runs a Sputnik wireless network used by service personnel to communicate with friends and family.

Mike Pratt, who owns and operates Balad Networks, said, "I am using the Sputnik Gateway 700 in Iraq successfully to authenticate hundreds of soldiers safely and securely. This, in my opinion, is the safest and most secure way to ensure reliable connectivity and manageability of my network to guarantee our service members have contact with their friends and family worldwide. Sputnik provides an easy, cost-effective and reliable solution."

Additional Enhancements, Extensions

According to LaDuke, the Sputnik Agent and Sputnik Agent NMS are now available on a wide range of APs, including:

--smartBridges Nexus PRO TOTAL carrier class AP, available through Sputnik channel partners Moonblink and HDCommunications

--RFTechnics RFT-LINK ruggedized outdoor AP, available both from Sputnik and RFTechnics

--APs from ASUS, Buffalo, Linksys, Motorola, MikroTik, and Siemens (through integration as a default part of DD-WRT firmware)

About Sputnik (www.sputnik.com)

Sputnik Inc. is a leading provider of software and services that allows wireless service providers to build Wi-Fi networks and manage them over the Internet. Sputnik's remote network and subscriber management features allow cost-effective operation in locations without onsite technical support. The San Francisco-based company offers a family of wireless application modules and access points to support a variety of businesses, service providers, and educational institutions.

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