Airespace Launches First Next Generation WLAN System with Support for IPv6

Company Further Solidifies Position as a Standards Leader; Future-Proofs WLAN System by Supporting Key Emerging Networking Protocol

San Jose, Calif., October 26, 2004—Airespace, Inc.® today announced support for Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) in its award-winning Wireless Enterprise Platform, making it the first next-generation Wireless LAN (WLAN) system to support the next generation of Internet networking. By supporting the newer version of IP, Airespace enables enterprises to "future-proof" their investments in WLAN technology. In addition, the Airespace WLAN system can take advantage of the scalability, security, and performance benefits of IPv6 as enterprises the world over migrate to this protocol.

IP is the underlying protocol of the Internet, defining how computers and other devices communicate with each other. Most hardware and software today uses IP Version 4. The Internet Engineering Task Force developed Version 6 during the 1990s as it became apparent that the explosive growth of the Internet would ultimately result in a shortfall of available addresses. In addition to increasing the available address space, IPv6 improves networking security by requiring IPsec encryption, providing performance enhancements through simplified routing tables, and establishing a standard mechanism for Quality of Service (QoS).

Japan is the first country to have implemented a native IPv6 production network. All service providers in Japan are on that network, and the Internet backbone in Japan is IPv6-enabled. China, most of Europe, and India are not far behind in terms of mass IPv6 adoption.

"IPv6 plays a significant role in Japan," said Yoshiji Sasano, Senior Research Engineer, Advanced Focus Technology Laboratory for KDDI R&D Laboratories, Inc. "By implementing this standard in their WLAN system, Airespace helps us to unify our wireless and wireline infrastructures. With Airespace, we can also leverage the unique security and performance benefits of IPv6 when deploying wireless applications."

While the United States is not experiencing an imminent address shortage, several initiatives are paving the way for mass IPv6 adoption in the country. For example, the Defense Department has committed to moving its networks to IPv6 by fiscal 2008 for many of the reasons listed above. Specific wireless applications, like Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), further accelerate the need for IPv6 by requiring more and more devices to be network enabled.

"Airespace is committed to supporting essential technology standards that pave the way for mass adoption of enterprise Wireless LANs," said Alan Cohen, vice president of marketing and product management at Airespace. "From our founders' role in the development of the initial 802.11 standard, to the creation of the Lightweight Access Point Protocol (LWAPP), to working with key standards bodies for early 802.11i and FIPS 140-2 certification, Airespace has always taken a leadership position when it comes to wireless standards development and adoption. Given the global importance of IPv6, this was the next natural step in Airespace's evolution as a global provider of standards-based wireless systems."

About Airespace, Inc.
Airespace designs and develops intelligent wireless networking platforms that support business-critical applications. The company has set the standard for enterprise Wireless LANs, having earned CMP LLC's "Best of Interop Award," Network Computing's "Editor's Choice Award" and "Well Connected Product of the Year," Network World's "World Class Award" and "Best of the Tests Award," Internet Telephony's "Product of the Year," eWeek's "Annual Excellence Award," and nomination as one of the "Best Wireless Products of 2003" in InfoWorld's "Reader's Choice" Awards. With dynamic RF management, air-tight security, seamless mobility, and support for real-time applications such as voice, Airespace helps enterprises implement secure and manageable Wireless networks worldwide.

For more information on Airespace and its products, visit www.airespace.com or call (+1) .