Motorola, Cisco in dual-mode cellular/Wi-Fi solution

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Motorola is joining forces with Cisco Systems to deliver a seamless enterprise mobility solution that will include Wireless Local Area Networking (WLAN) Internet Protocol (IP) telephony and cellular phone technologies. By blending key features and benefits of mobile cellular, wireless and enterprise fixed networks, the Motorola-Cisco solution will provide a single mobile communications device that bridges the physical and virtual-office environments to enable anytime, anywhere communications for mobile business professionals.

The technologies will come together in the form of dual-mode cellular and Wi-Fi phones that will help enterprises increase employee productivity, boost company agility and allow greater cost and security control over its information technology environments.

The Motorola and Cisco solution will operate using 802.11 technology inside the enterprise and cellular telephony elsewhere, with a seamless hand-off of communications between networks. The solution will be available as an extension to the Cisco CallManager IP-based communications system, utilizing a standards-based interface.

“This innovative collaboration combines the expertise of two world-leading companies to deliver a complete communication ecosystem that meets the diverse and demanding business-critical communications requirements of today’s most dynamic businesses,” said Greg Brown, President of Motorola’s Government and Enterprise Mobility Solutions business. “Our solution will extend the power of integrated communications services across the enterprise and seamlessly out into the world.”

“The convergence of cellular and WLAN networks on a single device further enhances the value proposition of IP-based applications for the enterprise,” said Barry O’Sullivan, vice president and general manager for the Cisco IP Communications Business Unit. “A dual-mode solution will add a very important dimension to Cisco’s growing voice business.“

Motorola solution elements will include dual-mode devices and network mobility enabled by their Wireless Services Manager. Cisco will provide IP telephony and WLAN infrastructure. Motorola and Cisco plan to extend the initial solution offering to include additional Cisco CallManager features and deliver the Cisco IP Communications experience to enterprise workers whenever and wherever they are needed.

Motorola and Cisco are working together on both solution development and go-to-market plans to make this dual mode solution available in early 2006.