Verizon Picks ArubaVerizon Picks Aruba

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. -- Verizon Business today unveiled a new managed service to enable large corporate and government customers to use wireless technology to quickly and securely extend the reach of local area networks (LANs) within office buildings, factories and other locations. The offering, Verizon Business Managed Wireless LAN (WLAN) Service, enables employees to access networks, applications and data whether sitting at a desk, attending a meeting in a conference room or working in a lab or on an assembly line.

"Enabling employee mobility is key to enhancing productivity and collaboration - proven factors driving business success today," said Jim DeMerlis, vice president of managed services, Verizon Business. "Businesses of all kinds are seeking ways to maintain their competitive edge. Our new managed WLAN Service provides organizations the opportunity to deploy a wireless LAN without additional investment in internal management and maintenance resources."

The offering is well-suited to a wide range of industries, including government, education, manufacturing, health care and retail. It addresses all aspects of a WLAN deployment and provides a platform for the introduction of future applications, such as voice-over-WLAN. As a result, customers can better focus on core business activities that drive revenue and value.

According to a December 2005 Forrester Research Inc. report entitled "North American WLAN Adoption Grows," demand for WLAN services has experienced significant growth over the past few years, with adoption increasing from 9 percent in 2003 to 24 percent in 2005.

"The market for managed wireless LAN services is still in its infancy, with many enterprises considering how and when to deploy the technology," said Sean Hackett, research manager for business network services, IDC, a market intelligence and advisory services firm. "In the past, security and complexity have been key inhibitors to enterprise adoption. A solution like Verizon Business Managed Wireless LAN Service directly addresses these inhibitors by simplifying on-going management and deployment, while also providing tightly integrated security capabilities."

Verizon Enterprise Solutions

Aruba Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: ARUN)