Aruba Networks Launches AP-93H Wireless Access Point

Wireless access points have made the shift from convenience technology to necessity, especially with the onslaught of mobile devices in the workplace. Aruba Networks is looking to capitalize on that with the AP-93H, a unique wireless access point solution that could find its way into dorm rooms, hospitals or hotels. I spoke to Aruba Network’s head of Industry Solutions, Manish Rai, about the new device. Here’s the scoop …

Rai noted Aruba Networks is looking to solve a litany of problems found with traditional access points. “Traditionally, you put [access points] in hallways. But if your experience has been like mine, the coverage can be spotty [and] you don’t get [adequate] bandwidth,” he said. “It’s common to have an Ethernet box in the wall, [so] our solution installs on top of existing wall boxes. Just unplug the wall plate, mount our new plate where it was, and snap it on.”

The AP-93H doesn’t require complicated configuration and it’s designed to be installation-friendly. If your hypothetical Ethernet outlet is dual-wired, (example: a hotel has one for standard Ethernet connections and one for an Ethernet-powered phone) the AP-93H has dual Ethernet jacks on the back, allowing for pass-through to a fifth front port for such a special device. Then, the AP broadcasts the wireless signal and users can also leverage four additional Ethernet ports as needed.

The AP-93H comes outfitted with Aruba’s enterprise software, enabling it to mesh with Aruba’s Mobility Controller for managing all the granular details of traffic shaping. For example, Rai said, a school may want to shape traffic so that data from Netflix never interferes with accessing important educational resources. Tech specs include a Gigabit Ethernet uplink, useful for video-chatting and legal file-sharing, and a unique Adaptive Radio Management and spectrum analysis feature to ensure other devices’ radio frequencies don’t interfere with web traffic.

Aruba sees the new device giving resellers “additional choice in how to solve the coverage and capacity problems” that frequently plague any hotel, educational institution or hospital where Wi-Fi is not just shared but also used for important infrastructure, Rai said. At $495 per unit, these devices are slated to be available to partners by the end of January 2012.