9/10/2007 -- Cisco Systems Inc. threw its hat into the 802.11n ring, announcing a new Unified Wireless Network offering that includes an industry first: the Aironet 1250 Series Access Point, which is the first shipping enterprise-class 11n access point available on the market, along with a 48Gbps Catalyst 6500-based wireless local LAN controller system, and version 4.2 of its Unified Wireless Network.

Analysts say it's an important deliverable -- not just for Cisco, but for the entire market.

"[B]y building modularity and power flexibility into its access point, Cisco has taken much of the fear out of implementing a draft 802.11n wireless network," wrote Michael Brandenburg, an analyst for enterprise network systems with consultancy Current Analysis. "Cisco's entry into the next-generation wireless space changes a lot of the rules. In a single announcement, Cisco has not only negated the 'first to market' advantage held by the early adopters, but has also put the market on its heels by building a level of modularity into the product not seen to date."

In this respect, Cisco's first-gen 802.11n support is key: The 802.11n standard supports up to four times that of 802.11g (54Mbps), an also boasts double the effective range of wireless coverage.

"With these kinds of speeds, the WLAN will be able support applications deemed too network intensive for even 802.11g," Brandenburg said.

There's a catch, of course: 802.11n is still very much a work in progress. It's currently awaiting ratification by the IEEE -- although the Wi-Fi Alliance has already commenced certification and interoperability testing on the June 2007 version of the standard.

This is another feather in Cisco's cap, according to Brandenburg. "The Aironet 1250 was not only the first certified 802.11n Draft 2.0 access point, but has also been selected to be part of the Wi-Fi Alliance's interoperability test bed," he said.

Brandenburg also likes the Aironet 1250 for its modularity. "Both radios in the unit are field replaceable, allowing customers to upgrade the access point themselves. This is particularly compelling in the current state of 802.11n ratification," he said. "Unlike competing solutions, this new access point will likely support the final IEEE 802.11n standard, even if the final specifications include significant changes to the underlying hardware."

He doesn't anticipate completely smooth sailing for Cisco, of course. For starters, the Aironet 1250 requires 18 watts of power to run at full function; that's well beyond the current 802.3af Power-over-Ethernet capacity, Brandenburg pointed out.

"While Cisco has pledged support for the higher power requirement throughout its Catalyst line of switches in the next six months, the earliest of adopters will have to use specific power injectors or A/C adapters to power the access points," he said. "Also, while announced together, the Aironet 1250 access point does not currently support Cisco's enterprise meshing solution. Although support is promised shortly, it is still disappointing that it does not mesh out of the box."

All in all, however, Cisco has grabbed an undeniable advantage by delivering what amounts to the industry's first enterprise-class 802.11n device. --Stephen Swoyer