Netgear targets SMEs with wireless management solutions

Firm promises cheaper and more effective network management

Netgear's new products should help businesses manage Wi-Fi networks more effectively

Wireless management firm Netgear today announced three new products due to launch this year aimed at helping small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) better manage their wireless networks.

Two of the products are specifically aimed at SMEs, and are designed to allow IT staff to manage access points more efficiently and at a fraction of the cost of traditional management applications, the company said.

The WMS105 software allows up to five access points to be configured from a central point to provide security and access management, and will be available from the first quarter of 2010 for $50 (£30).

For medium sized firms, the WMS5316 offers the ability to manage five to 16 access points for between 50 and 200 users, and has load balancing functionality to ensure that no single access point becomes overloaded. It will be available in the second quarter for $910 (£560).

The final product, the WC7520, is designed for larger enterprises with 200+ users and will be launched in the third quarter of the year for $6,280 (£3,867).

Peter Newton, director of product marketing for security and business wireless at Netgear, explained that the products had been designed in response to feedback from customers, and represent a growth area in the business market for Netgear.

"For many firms a full wireless management system is too expensive, and many may lack IT staff with specialist skills for wireless management," he said. " These releases are designed to meet the demand for products that allow firms to do this simply, efficiently and cost-effectively."

The products are all designed to work with the majority of Netgear access points which businesses may already have installed, and with 802.11n wireless devices, said the firm.