Siemens Enhances and Extends Open Communications with Next Generation HiPath Wireless(R) Convergence Software and New Outdoor Ac

Nov. 13, 2007

BOCA RATON, Fla., Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Enterprise wireless LAN (WLAN) coverage can now extend outdoors between campus buildings situated in university and government settings and in industrial environments like warehouses, factories and construction sites. Siemens Communications, Inc. today released the HiPath Wireless Outdoor Access Point (OAP) and V5 of the HiPath Wireless Convergence Software. These new Siemens WLAN offerings further extend the company's commitment to creating an open, wide-ranging wireless network environment for Voice over WLAN and Mobility-Enabled Business Processes - delivering Fixed Mobile Convenience (FMC) to the enterprise.

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Now users can roam across corporate, industrial, government and educational campuses without any break in their WiFi connection and WiFi- supported voice calls. By extending WLAN coverage across the entire physical footprint of an enterprise, business communications and procedures can continue unabated, offering greater efficiency, responsiveness and performance.

"The HiPath Wireless Outdoor AP will allow us to break outside the classroom and cover our campus in a blanket of wireless LAN coverage," said Russell Diaz , Executive Director of Information Technology, Dominican College. "Such wireless availability will not only afford greater anytime, anywhere collaboration to students, faculty and guests, but it will also allow us to maximize our investment by adding innovative wireless applications such as asset tracking, Voice over wireless LAN and an enhanced surveillance system."

The Siemens HiPath Wireless OAP is designed for outdoor and industrial environments and supports Wireless Distribution Service (WDS) technology, which enables the OAP to operate without a wired Ethernet network connection. The solution is resistant to both freshwater and saltwater, fog, humidity, dust, and dirt and has a broad operating temperature range. Installation is plug-and-play. No Ethernet cabling is needed, so it's also useful for situations not suited for pulling data cable, such as historical buildings, campuses with large geographic distances between buildings and complex manufacturing environments.

In addition to supporting the new OAP, the release of HiPath Wireless Convergence Software V5 supports other important voice and security features. The new software offers three key elements:

-- WDS, which enables the OAP and existing HiPath Wireless access points to operate without a wired Ethernet network connection - delivering wireless backhaul capabilities. -- Opportunistic Key Caching (OKC), a secure, fast-roaming technique that allows access points to share authentication credentials to accelerate client roaming and prevent delays in voice calls. -- 802.1x AP authentication, which provides secure wired network integration through access point authentication.

The Siemens HiPath Wireless OAP and V5 of the HiPath Wireless Convergence Software are the seventh and eighth major releases to the HiPath Wireless portfolio in 24 months, continuing Siemens' enhancements to its FMC offerings. The benefits of FMC and multi-vendor interoperability reflect the Siemens Open Communications architecture that is the foundation of the entire Siemens HiPath portfolio of enterprise communications solutions.

"This newest release will help our enterprise customers close the gaps that may exist in their wireless LAN coverage, creating comprehensive wireless connectivity for information access and communications anywhere on the company premises," said Luc Roy, vice president, product planning, Enterprise Mobility, Siemens Communications, Inc. "By extending the WiFi footprint, our customers can gain that much more efficiency, collaboration and responsiveness in their day-to-day operations."

The Siemens HiPath Wireless OAP is available now in two models - the 2650, which has an internal antenna, and the 2660, with an external antenna. HiPath Wireless Convergence Software V5 supports the HiPath Wireless portfolio of WLAN controllers, access points and management software.

About Siemens

Siemens AG (NYSE: SI) is one of the largest global electronics and engineering companies with reported worldwide sales of $96 billion in fiscal 2005. Founded nearly 160 years ago, the company is a leader in the areas Medical, Power, Automation and Control, Transportation, Information and Communications, Lighting, Building Technologies, Water Technologies and Services and Home Appliances. With its U.S. corporate headquarters in New York City , Siemens in the USA has sales of $18.8 billion and employs approximately 70,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico . Eleven of Siemens' worldwide businesses are based in the United States . With its global headquarters in Munich , Siemens AG and its subsidiaries employ 460,000 people in 190 countries. For more information on Siemens in the United States: www.usa.siemens.com

About Siemens Communications, Inc.

Siemens Communications, Inc. is an affiliate of Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co. KG, one of the world's leading vendors of Open Communications solutions for enterprises of all sizes, enabling business processes to be more productive, faster and more secure - with any device, network or information technology infrastructure. Siemens Communications Inc., and Siemens Enterprise Communications GmbH & Co. KG are wholly owned subsidiaries of Siemens AG with about 15,000 employees globally and headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla. For more info, visit http://enterprise.usa.siemens.com/home.html

Note: Siemens and HiPath are registered trademarks of Siemens AG or its subsidiaries and affiliates. All other company, brand, product and service names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

This release contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of Siemens management. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," "intend," "plan," "should," and "project" are used to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the company's current views with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause the actual results to be materially different, including, among others, changes in general economic and business conditions, changes in currency exchange rates and interest rates, introduction of competing products, lack of acceptance of new products or services and changes in business strategy. Actual results may vary materially from those projected here. Siemens does not intend or assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Siemens

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