ELSA targets home users with launch of
Vianect WLAN
networking products
UK homes can now benefit from broadband Internet, Ethernet
and WiFi wireless LAN solutions
THEALE, October 3 2001 - Networking vendor ELSA has launched
its new range of easy to use, digital home networking products, branded
Vianect. This versatile range aims to drive networking uptake in the UK's
25m homes, over one third of which are already connected to the Internet.
Peter Huddleston, product manager for ELSA commented, "The
ELSA Vianect WLAN range offers home users a flexible network with no more
'cable spaghetti'. This allows Internet access via a laptop from the sofa
or, with a range of up to 300m, the end of the garden. With 11Mbps
transmission, the network will handle multimedia traffic and multiple
concurrent access, so the kids can watch film trailers on the PC at the same
time as Dad is sending a report back to the office via his laptop. Home
networking is a ripe market as broadband access rolls out across the UK,
with 100 per cent of BT exchanges to be ADSL-enabled by end 2001. ELSA is
one of the first vendors to realistically serve this market with a complete,
cost-effective, plug-and-play solution."
The ELSA Vianect WLAN Access Point (AP) features an 11Mbps
wireless access point with serial/Ethernet connectivity. This allows it to
be plugged straight into the user's Internet access device, or alternatively
work through the Ethernet LAN. It has a range of up to 300m outdoor, or
60m
indoor, and retails at £229.99 inc. VAT with a two-year warranty.
The ELSA Vianect WLAN MC, a PCMCIA wireless adapter card
that also runs at 11Mbps, can be used with laptops or webPADs, like the ELSA
Logboard, a compact wireless touchscreen device, to afford flexible wireless
access. By supporting the IEEE 802.11b wireless standard, the ELSA Vianect
WLAN MC can be used when travelling for wireless log-in to a company network
or at public spots such as airports or hotels. It retails at £109.99 inc.
VAT with a two-year warranty.
The ELSA Vianect WLAN Starter Kit bundles the above two
products, including Wi-Fi PCMCIA card, Wi-Fi access point, power adapter and
Ethernet cable, and retails at £299.99 inc. VAT with a two-year warranty.
It allows resellers, integrators and home users a quick foothold into the
home digital networking market at an extremely attractive price.
Background
ELSA is one of the leading providers of Internet access and
computer graphics solutions for the PC. Its product range includes modems,
ISDN adapters, ISDN and DSL routers, videoconferencing systems, graphics
boards and monitors. ELSA was founded in 1980 and today has around 600
employees. In addition to its headquarters in Aachen, Germany, it also
maintains subsidiaries in San José (USA), Taipei (Taiwan) and Tokyo (Japan)
as well as in London (UK), Paris (France), Milan (Italy), Madrid (Spain),
Stockholm (Sweden) and Eke (Belgium). Since June 1998, ELSA AG shares are
traded on the "Neuer Markt" trading segment (WKN 507 360) of the
Frankfurt
stock exchange in Germany.
ELSA G.B. Ltd, 1210 Parkview, Arlington Business Park,
Theale, Berks RG7 4TY
Tel: 0118 965 7755 Fax: 0118 965 7756
Freephone sales no.: 0800 056 34 45
Web site: www.elsa.co.uk
