Cisco, MobileAccess Boost Indoor Cell Phone Reception

One of the great banes of cell phone use is that users too often can't use the phones in buildings. There is a solution at hand, according to an announcement Tuesday from in-building wireless specialist MobileAccess and Cisco, which together have developed an improved way of sending RF signals over Ethernet LANs.

The companies believe they have a solution to the challenge presented by the flocks of cell phones appearing in growing numbers in higher education, healthcare, hospitality and office facilities.

The application works like this: The MobileAccessVE solution sends RF signals over Cisco CAT-5/6 Ethernet LAN infrastructures. Neither the wired nor the LAN traffic is affected by the application. The application enables enterprises to add cellular coverage and expand Cisco WLAN coverage at the same time at a low cost and in relatively quick time, according to MobileAccess.

"In delivering this integrated solution to enterprise customers," MobileAccess said in the Tuesday announcement, "MobileAccess and Cisco will work closely with a number of wireless service providers to provision the cellular component of the solution."

MobileAccess said it is working with MIT's Information Services & Technology team to install the MobileAcces-Cisco solution at various MIT facilities.

The new application, which has been tested for interoperability with Cisco solutions, is available through Cisco and its channel partners.

"Increased user demands for mobility are driving the need for pervasive 802.11n Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity everywhere," said Ray Smets, vice president of Cisco's Wireless Networking Business Unit, in a statement. "Cisco and MobileAccess are responding to this need with an innovative approach."