We've all heard of underwire bras. But how about a wireless B-RAS?

Juniper Networks Inc. (Nasdaq: JNPR) became the first company to announce such a product today when it took the peignoir off a new version of its E-Series broadband remote access server (B-RAS).

Sadly, and despite the monicker, the device does not now actually feature an aerial or rabbit ears. Instead, Juniper has upgraded it with some new software that allows service providers to add large numbers of distributed 802.11 wireless LAN hotspots (in hotels or airports, say) into their existing terrestrial network, and then manage and provision services over them using the scaleable B-RAS-based features they already are familiar with (see Juniper Intros WLAN System).

"Their solution enables operators to get into the wireless LAN space while coninuing to offer all of the same services they deliver on wide area networks," says Shiv Bakhshi, IDC's research manager for 3G wireless infrastructure.

For the full story, please visit our sister-site devoted to wireless networking: Unstrung.

— Dan Jones, Senior Editor, Unstrung