| 802.11n Vendor Matrix
Aruba Networks and Meru Networks have emerged as the overall champions in ABI Research’s evaluation of 802.11n vendors. Aruba’s flexible architecture, which permits centralized or hybrid operation, ensures that there is no danger of the controller becoming a choke-point. Its adaptive radio management eliminates the danger of cross-channel interference, and the company has improved its planning and management tools. Aruba offers a solid portfolio of 802.11n access points, both integrated antenna models and external antenna models. It has worked hard to build channels where early adopters of 802.11n are most prevalent – healthcare and higher education – though it is finding wider acceptance of 802.11n in other verticals as well. Meru’s mature products scored well in value-add features, many being a direct result of its unique architecture. Meru announced over 70 actual 802.11n deployments, including 911 access points at Morrisville State University in New Jersey and 512 access points at the University of Miami. The vendor has shown major strength in the early adopter verticals of higher education and healthcare. Its demonstrated ability at several K-12 deployments to handle very dense wireless environments without interference gives it an edge with numerous customers in verticals where dense deployments are the norm. Meru earns extra points for its complete 802.lln product portfolio, its use of dual-band radios, and its ability to provide wireless intrusion detection without the adding another layer of sensors. Motorola emerged as the winner in Innovation. The company leveraged its R&D to come up with an 802.11n product portfolio with myriad innovative features. Its access points can function as dependent APs but then shift to independent mode if required. At the recent Interop trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada, the company demonstrated a compelling application of QoS that goes well beyond the standards when it comes to reducing latency in transporting video over 802.11n. Its built-in mesh capabilities are undeniable as are its advanced planning tools, antenna technology, and industrial 802.11n product. Motorola architected its product line so that customers migrating to 802.11n need only swap out radios and not entire access points. The company offers several built-in features without additional licensing fees. Motorola has leveraged its Wireless Valley acquisition technology to supply an intuitive inside and outside planning tool. Some other key findings:
802.11n Vendor Matrix Top 10 Listing:
 Denotes highest rated company along the Implementation scale
 Denotes highest rated company along the Innovation scale
Rankings After individual scores are established for Innovation and Implementation using the above criteria, an overall company score is established using the Root Mean Square (RMS) method:  The resulting overall scores are then ranked and used for percentile comparisons. The RMS method, in comparison with a straight summation or average of individual innovation and implementation values, rewards companies for standout performance. For example, using this method a company with an innovation score of 9 and an implementation score of 1 would score considerably higher than a company with a score of 5 in both areas, despite the mean score being the same. ABI Research believes this is appropriate as the goal of these matrices is to highlight those companies that stand out from the others. |
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