SMC Goes Retail with High-Power Wireless Networking to Satisfy Range and Throughput Demands of...

Business Editors

IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2003

Award-Winning EliteConnect(TM) 2.4GHz 802.11b High Power

Wireless PC Card to be Sold in Stores

SMC Networks (www.smc.com), leading provider of networking solutions for the Enterprise, the SMB

and all the way home, today announced that the company will begin offering its award-winning EliteConnect(TM) SMC2532W-B 2.4GHz 802.11b High Power Wireless PC Card through the retail channel to satisfy the growing demand for wireless networking products that are optimized for superior range and performance. The first of the company's High Power Wireless family, the EliteConnect High Power PC Card increases mobility and flexibility for wireless networking by providing 802.11b connectivity with up to 200 milliWatts (mW) of transmit power -- nearly four times the power of standard PC Cards and twice the power offered by any other PC Card on the market today. The SMC2532W-B 2.4GHz 802.11b High Power Wireless PC Card has been available through resellers and integrators since spring, and will now be available in retail stores at an MSRP of $69.99.

The highest-powered PC Card on the market today, and winner of multiple awards, the SMC2532W-B features transmit power of up to 200 milliWatts (mW) and excellent receive sensitivity. With an operating range of up to 2,700 feet -- almost three times greater than standard 802.11b wireless clients -- the SMC EliteConnect 802.11b High Power Wireless PC Card overcomes significant indoor multipath distortion to provide dramatic improvements in networking quality and throughput. The already superior range of the SMC2532W-B can be increased even further by attaching an optional high-gain antenna (SMCANT-OM5) to one of the two available MMCX connectors.

"Wireless networking is big for home users, because running wires is cumbersome and expensive," said SMC's Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Tom Rizol. "Home environments present challenges, however, with obstacles like odd-shaped rooms and appliances. While initially designed for businesses, and very well received in that market, bringing a higher-powered adapter to retail for home users is a great idea. It will help home users get around the 'rough spots' with its enhanced throughput and range."

The EZ Installation Wizard makes setting up the SMC2532W-B quick and easy. Fully IEEE 802.11b-compliant, it can be configured to operate in Ad-hoc (Peer-to-Peer) or Infrastructure (communication to the wired network via an Access Point) mode, and operates seamlessly on any 802.11b or 802.11g network. Profile management software lets users of the new high-power wireless PC Card save multiple wireless profiles -- the office, home, the coffee shop -- so that moving around is easy, and its built-in scanning utility detects and displays available access points on the network. Connections are secured via 64/128-bit WEP encryption and the new Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). It also supports advanced level security and RADIUS authentication through 802.1x, EAP-MD5, EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS and LEAP for user authentication, to ensure that only authorized users can access the resources of the wireless network.

About SMC Networks

A leading provider of networking solutions for the Enterprise, the SMB and all the way home, SMC puts its more than 30 years' experience to work for every product and solution the company produces. Leveraging strong industry relationships in combination with experienced and talented in-house design and engineering, SMC continues to bring to market a host of affordable, high-performance products. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., SMC Networks supports its worldwide market through regional offices located throughout the United States and 20 other countries. For more information about SMC Networks or its products, visit www.smc.com, or call 800-SMC-4You (800-762-4968).