Aruba Networks has unveiled two new software products that give mobile users the same phone and network access they enjoy at work even if they are out of office.

The new mobile access point software provides enterprise connectivity and follow-me security by enabling role-based user access controls, stateful firewall and split-tunneling in any Aruba access point into which it is loaded.

In addition, the unique HotelConnect feature enables road warriors to access hotel Internet connections using dual-mode phones, PDAs, and other devices that would otherwise be blocked by the hotel’s billing system.

The new mobile voice continuity software heralds the third phase of Aruba’s enterprise FMC programme that was launched last year. Without requiring IP PBX upgrades or partnerships with cellular carriers, the mobile voice continuity software automatically manages the hand-off of data and phone calls between Aruba’s wireless LAN and a cellular network.

Taken together these powerful new tools securely connect mobile voice, data, and video users anywhere they travel.

“The trend in networking is to bring infrastructure and applications to the user,” said Rachna Ahlawat, a research director at Gartner. “New location-based technology prompted follow-me Internet services, and new tracking technology spawned find-me call redirect offerings. Follow-me security and follow-me calling are logical evolutions of developments in these industries.”

Aruba’s mobility solutions associate security and access policies with individual users instead of ports, allowing security to follow users instead of forcing users to connect to the network through specific ports. 

Carrying the follow-me security concept forward, the policies enforced by the new mobile access point firewall mirror those enforced by the corporate Aruba mobility controller. If multiple users connect to an access point equipped with Mobile Access Point software, each user will be managed separately.

Travellers to hotels and other locations regulated by captive portals have previously been unable to use Wi-Fi enabled dual-mode telephones, PDAs, or other non-PC devices to connect to the portal-protected network.
Access points loaded with mobile access point software remedy this situation by registering with the portal and allowing any authorized device to be used just as it would in the corporate office - for data access, to send and receive voice-over-IP telephone calls, for streaming video delivery, and for Skype and video conference calls.

To optimise local traffic flow, the software’s split-tunneling feature directs only corporate traffic back to the mobility controller, while Internet access and printer traffic remain local. –TradeArabia News Service