Meru Networks Certifies Secure Interoperability of Multivendor Enterprise Dual-Mode Cellular and WiFi VoIP Phones

Business Wire, Oct 9, 2007

Apple iPhone and iPod Touch, RIM Blackberry 8820/8320, Cisco 7920/7921, Nokia E-and N-Series, HP iPAQ Added to Meru's VoIP UnPlugged[TM] Portfolio

SUNNYVALE, Calif. -- Meru Networks, the leader in workplace mobility infrastructure for wireless voice (VoIP), data and video, today announced it has certified the secure and seamless interoperability of a wide range of new dual-mode and Wi-Fi phones including the Apple iPhone and iPod touch, Blackberry 8320/8820, Cisco 7920/7921, HP iPAQ, HTC Touch and Nokia E- and N-Series phones, with the Meru Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) System. Leveraging the rigorous testing requirements of its VoIP Unplugged[TM] Program, Meru ensures the industry's highest over-the-air quality of service (QoS) and interoperability between Wi-Fi-enabled VoIP devices and its 4th generation WLAN system, on physical, security and QoS standards. Certification tests are conducted in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands with IEEE 802.11b/g and 11a compliant devices respectively, and for the security modes WPA2-Enterprise, WPA-Enterprise, WPA2-Personal, WPA-Personal, WEP128 and Clear.

More corporate employees, consultants, and guests are using Wi-Fi-enabled voice devices ranging from personal dual-mode cell phones like the Apple iPhone to corporate issued devices such as the RIM Blackberry. These new Wi-Fi VoIP client devices can compromise the security and degrade the performance and QoS of the corporate WLAN network. Additionally, the different unique physical, security and QoS specifications supported on the proliferating Wi-Fi handhelds can be a significant burden to IT network managers.

Meru Networks introduced the VoIP UnPlugged[TM] Program more than two years ago specifically to address these challenges, and provide peace of mind for IT network managers. Through this program, Wi-Fi VoIP and dual-mode devices undergo extensive testing both in the lab and in production networks, with emphasis on over-the-air security, QoS, performance, scalability and seamless Wi-Fi interoperability.

By leveraging the VoIP UnPlugged[TM] certified portfolio of Wi-Fi devices, IT network managers can select the optimum device for use on the corporate network while ensuring their users can reliably and securely connect and communicate with interactive performance enterprise-wide.

The latest handsets to be certified and added to the VoIP Unplugged Program include:

* Apple iPhone and iPod touch

* Cisco 7920/7921 wireless VoIP phone

* RIM's Blackberry 8820 and 8320

* HP iPAQ

* HTC Touch

* KDDI EO2SA mobile handset

* Nokia E-Series (E60, E61, E61i, E65 E70 and E90) and N-Series (N95) dual-mode phones

* NEC N902iL dual-mode handset

"Wireless LANs are no longer just for data clients. A new generation of handheld Wi-Fi devices, primarily for voice communications, are being brought into the enterprise WLAN to extend and in some cases replace traditional wired desk phones," said Rachna Ahlawat, vice president of strategic marketing for Meru Networks. "Meru's unique ability to assure interactive mobile application delivery makes it possible for users to experience the same access and service levels as wired users, with delay-free roaming and toll-quality voice calls regardless of network loading even when mixed with high densities of data clients."

Meru VoIP Unplugged Program

For more on the Meru VoIP Unplugged Program and a full list of dual-mode and Wi-Fi phones that have been certified interoperable with the Meru WLAN System, please see: http://www.merunetworks.com/partners/unplugged/voippartners/

About Meru Networks

Meru Networks is the global leader in wireless infrastructure solutions that enable the All-Wireless Enterprise. Its industry-leading innovations deliver pervasive, wireless service fidelity for business-critical applications to major Fortune 500 enterprises, universities, healthcare organizations and local, state and federal government agencies. Meru's award-winning Air Traffic Control technology brings the benefits of the cellular world to the wireless LAN environment, and its WLAN System is the only solution on the market that delivers predictable bandwidth and over-the-air Quality of Service with the reliability, scalability, and security necessary to deliver converged voice and data services over a single WLAN infrastructure. Founded in 2002, Meru is based in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, visit www.merunetworks.com or call (408) 215-5300.