This definitely shows how far the wireless industry has come.
Aruba Networks and Motorola Inc, together with it's subsidiaries Symbol Technologies, Wireless Valley Communications, Inc. and AirDefense decided on November 06 to settle all outstanding intellectual property disputes between the two companies.
Additionally they are actively exploring technical and business opportunities of mutual interest associated with the all-wireless enterprise. It is interesting to see the market converge in the WLAN space. Aruba Networks is definitely the number #2 player.
Motorola with the acquisition of Symbol Technologies has a commanding lead in the mobile computing and Auto-ID industry. I joined Symbol in 1999 and rode the wave of 802.11b becoming real with the healthcare application convergence as well as the use of bar-code scanning at the point of care. Several good companies were formed in the WLAN space that did not manufacture (APs, or controllers). Wireless Valley is considered one of the gold standards for WLAN planning, while AirDefense provided a comprehensive enterprise approach to IDS 24/x7x365 monitoring. The other gold standard AirMagnet, was most recently acquired by Fluke Networks. Motorola then acquired Symbol then both Wireless Valley and AirDefense. In a similar fashion, Aruba Networks made a brilliant move to acquire AirWave. AirWave provided the industry a standard management platform that allowed for a true multi-vendor approach to WLAN management. I think that this could have a very positive approach for healthcare in general and may really force hard competitive price pressures. First on the Motorola side, they have with the acquisition of Symbol, the mobile computing and Auto-ID (bar code), situation (BCMA), covered. With Wireless Valley and AirDefense, a comprehensive planning and IDS strategy can be provided. Oh, yes forgot they (Motorola) too have WLAN controllers, APs, indoor/outdoor, point to point, etc., two way radios, etc. of which Motorola has a huge heritage. Second on the Aruba Networks side, AirWave can provide a true enterprise management platform for the management of legacy 802.11a/b/g from Cisco, Symbol, HP ProCurve, Trapeeze, (which was purchased by Belden) you name it together with Aruba Networks and provide a comprehensive management strategy for QoS and security. Finally, a lot of medical device manufactures like Aruba because of it's patented quality of service on a packet by packet level, without a need of implementing any specific proprietary extensions. Sounds like these two companies have resolved things and are combining forces; which makes good business sense. All the win for healthcare. My web based event on 802.11n for Aruba Networks in case it was missed, is now posted on www.arubanetworks.com
How will these two major players teaming together in the wireless space effect both the "largest player" and whole slew of minor players in the WLAN space?