By Anna Marie Kukec | Daily Herald Columnist
Published: 4/3/2009 10:47 AM
Lewis University
Daily Hareld
Schaumburg-based Motorola Inc. combined some of its key wireless network products to create an all-WiFi campus at Lewis University in Romeoville.The campus is perhaps the first in the nation to have wireless, high-speed broadband both inside and outside its buildings, reaching out to its outdoor sporting events as well as its own airport.
It’s also the first time Motorola combined some of its industry-known products, such as Mesh, wireless connectivity for governments and the public sector, and its recently acquired AirDefense wireless security to cover the entire campus.
“At the end of the day, it’s about access for people where those people are,” said Tim Mason, Motorola senior director of wireless broadband in Schaumburg.
Lewis University officials felt something was needed, especially since its current wireless system was outdated and unreliable, and it didn’t meet the needs of the incoming wave of new students. So it enlisted Motorola along with wireless service provider Scientel Wireless.
“In today’s competitive, quickly evolving education environment, it is crucial to provide high-speed wireless Internet access in every part of the campus,” Lewis University President Brother James Gaffney said in a statement.
It also was necessary to not only connect students and teachers, but to provide full services for data, video and voice applications. The new network also serves as a backup to the university’s wired infrastructure, Mason said.
“If they had clouds or wind or when the trees changed with the season, the outside elements all changed the game a bit,” Mason said.
So Motorola combined its products, coupled with AirDefense, which offers wireless security to repel hackers.
Now, students or faculty can open their laptops anywhere on campus, inside or outside the classroom, and connect to the Wi-Fi network, Mason said.
Motorola aims to market similar Wi-Fi systems for other universities, Mason said.
“The benefits are so great and this offers a blueprint,” Mason said. “It’s not as cumbersome or expensive either.”
Surfing: The Greater Aurora Chamber of Commerce has created a profile on Twitter with the username “AuroraILChamber.” The group is using Twitter to tout its business news and events.
• Verizon Wireless, which has its Midwest headquarters in Schaumburg, is joining the Joint Innovation Lab established by China Mobile, Softbank and Vodafone to help create mobile technologies for the mass market. They’re focusing on creating a global platform for mobile widgets, which will enhance the mobile Internet for smartphones as well as some handsets that are on multiple operating systems.
• Chicago-based GenXpense.com offers Generations X and Y a change to keep up on their finances with its educational resources.
• AT&T, which has its Midwest headquarters in Hoffman Estates, said its U-verse TV, Internet and Voice services are now available to more than 1 million of what the company called “living units” around the Chicago and suburban area. Living units – formerly known as households.
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