Dulles,
VA. January 24, 2005 – Encore Networks
today announced its new Cellular Data
Module for its BANDIT™ family of IP+Legacy
VPN routers. The new CDMA and GSM modules
bring not only secure IP connectivity
to any location in a cellular footprint,
but also offer users of legacy protocols
the unique capability of converting their
serial data protocols to IP for transport
over the cellular network. The combination
of these capabilities offers enterprises
a quick economical deployment solution
for permanent as well as temporary installations.
"The new BANDIT internal cellular
module operates on low-cost telemetry
services from all cellular network providers," said
Peter C. Madsen, Encore president. "Not
only is this approach inexpensive, but
it also offers unsurpassed flexibility
and speed of deployment for both IP and
serial Legacy data applications”
For end-users, the economics of using
cellular for telemetry or transaction
based applications as an alternative
to expensive landlines or satellite are
particularly strong. Many telemetry and
transaction devices operate on dedicated
lines with speeds of 19.2 kbps or less.
With low-bandwidth devices like Lottery
Terminals, ATM’s, Utility RTU’s, security
equipment, and point of sale devices
the BANDIT™ family of wireless products
can easily drop in and provide up to
144 kbps of cellular bandwidth for as
little as $8 per month.
The BANDIT™ with a cellular module can
provide terrestrial carriers that have
“out of territory” cellular partnerships
a great last mile solution. When terrestrial
carriers do not have a footprint in a
particular region the BANDIT™ can be
used with their cellular partner. This
solution can quickly simplify a large
customer deployment and save the carrier
from having to wholesale data circuits
from a LEC.
Available now, on a limited basis, the
new wireless option fully integrates
into Encore’s BANDIT™ product family:
BANDIT™, BANDIT-IP, BANDIT-PLUS™, and
VSR-30™ satellite VPN appliance.
Legacy of Latency
Legacy protocols such
as X.42, X.25, SDLC, CDLC, Bisync, Poll-Select
(TC500), ALC, and SCADA share a sensitivity
to network delay known as latency. Handling
legacy protocols on current networks
is one of Encore's corporate strengths.
Satellite links and cellular connections
inherently have a high degree of latency,
which the host/mainframe can see as a
broken circuit and ”drops” the connection.
Queuing of packets and encryption/decryption
processing in routers add enough delay
that plain encapsulation of legacy protocols
usually fails to work over these high
latency transports.
Every BANDIT™ includes spoofing, conversion,
and other protocol handling features
that overcome this latency problem. Spoofing
means the BANDIT™ provides interaction
with the CPE operating with a legacy
protocol eliminating the need for end-to-end-
polling. Eliminating this host to remote
polling means that latency is no longer
an issue. Devices popular in the finance,
utility, transportation, and lottery
industries operate reliably when connected
to any model BANDIT™, whether the network
is leased line, frame relay, IP, dialup,
satellite, or cellular.
With latency no longer an issue, and
no fear of dropped connections, the BANDIT™
can also apply standards-based IPSec
encryption to every packet. Data security
is ensured end-to-end, not just on the
over-the-air link. Dedicated encryption
hardware accelerates processing to maximize
throughput.
BANDIT™ for Carrier Managed Services
The unique combination of features in
the BANDIT™ allows carriers with both
landline and wireless operations to offer
improved service availability by adding
broadband wireless for backup to a terrestrial
circuit service. These dual links inherently
are routed diversely, satisfying a requirement
for many organizations concerned with
continuity of operations.
“With the quick deployment capability
and low cost, telemetry service via cellular
is a great transport for state lotteries,”
stated Bill Uhlig, Director of Strategic
Accounts for Encore. “Lotteries are always
looking for ways to increase revenue
and the cellular features incorporated
in the BANDIT can definitely help. Today
when a lottery signs up a new retailer
it can take up to six weeks or more for
a landline to be installed. With the
wireless BANDIT, a new retailer can begin
generating revenue immediately. Also
the lottery can use cellular connectivity
for special events like state fairs,
trade shows, or sporting events. One
state lottery that recently tested our
products using the X.42 protocol was
extremely impressed with the easy set
up, network management capabilities,
and send-to-cut times of less than three
seconds.”
The wireless alternative becomes very
appealing--perhaps enabling--for a site
in rugged terrain. "Last mile" connectivity
may be within easy reach, even if you
can't walk there or string a cable. Cellular
service is licensed by the carrier, not
the customer, making the BANDIT™ much
easier and less expensive to deploy than
microwave equipment licensed by the FCC.
“The newly introduced wireless module
makes Encore Networks unique in providing
converged secure remote access over hybrid,
satellite, wireline, and wireless networks," said
Madsen. |
