Wireless LAN startup Trapeze Networks Inc. is supporting SpectraLink Corp.'s voice-over-IP protocol in its management software as part of a series of year-end upgrades for its switch offerings.

The move offers more proof -- as if it were needed -- that 2004 will be the year that voice-over-WLAN is ready for its closeup. Startups and incumbents in the enterprise 802.11 market have been clamoring to add features and partnerships that will make for a convincing voice strategy next year (see Voice Over WLAN Ups Stakes).

SpectraLink is best known for making mobile IP handsets but also has its own proprietary 802.11 quality-of-service extensions to enable voice traffic to be prioritized on wireless LAN networks. The Trapeze move will mean that the SpectraLink phones can be supported by the switch without having to install this software, according to Bike Manic, marketing VP at Trapeze.

As previously reported, Trapeze has also added 802.11g (54 Mbit/s over 2.4GHz) support for its Mobility Point access points, AES security for its switch and, like rivals Airespace Inc. and Aruba Wireless Networks, made it possible for its APs to "talk" to its switch without being directly connected to it (see Trapeze's Wireless Wobbles).

— Dan Jones, Senior Editor, Unstrung