MUNICH & HANOVER, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Meru Networks (NASDAQ:MERU) can now announce that software giant Microsoft used Meru’s MobileFLEX virtual WLAN architecture during CeBIT 2013, the largest IT tradeshow and most contentious Wi-Fi environment on Earth.
Meru’s Context-aware Application Layers (CALs) were utilized to cut through all the other traffic at the show to provide access to the Microsoft staff, visitors and journalists, who, at peak times, were using more than 600 mobile devices including netbooks, tablets, smartphones and various other wireless devices from many different manufacturers connected simultaneously. After experiencing disappointing results the previous year with another wireless vendor, Microsoft was very pleased with the reliability and predictability of the Meru technology in this very challenging tradeshow environment.
German systems integrator, M.S. IT-Services GmbH selected the Meru Networks technology while planning the wireless network for the multi-level, 3000 m2 Microsoft stand. M.S. IT-Services GmbH, a company of the URANO Group, was responsible for building up the network infrastructure on the stand which included over 1,050 Ethernet ports, 24 physical and 260 virtual servers and firewalls. Fifty Meru AP332e access points (APs) and two MC4200 controllers deployed in redundant configuration were deployed in order to support over 600 clients.
Monika Friedrich, CeBIT Project Manager, Microsoft, was very satisfied with the high level of traffic on the Microsoft booth, saying, “In addition to the over 800 Microsoft staff members working on the stand we also hosted over 50 partners who built up demonstration areas to showcase the Microsoft solutions. Already on the first day of the tradeshow we had 400 devices connected over the wireless LAN network. This year we had a huge number of visitors from around the world and even hosted a number of VIPs including the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk.
“We showcased on a daily basis the Microsoft solutions in very demanding live demonstrations on our centre stage,” Frederich continued. "It is very important for us that these live demos run smoothly and the pre-requisite for this if of course reliable and high-speed WLAN connectivity. Last year we had major issues to provide connectivity without a wired connection. This year, we are extremely pleased with the performance of the Meru technology that worked without any hitches throughout the entire show.”
Achim Scholz, Project Manager, M.S. IT-Services, who has been responsible for the last three years for the IT infrastructure on the Microsoft stand added, “This year we have 26 physical and 260 virtual servers on the stand that of course all need to be connected up via a wired connection. In the previous years, the WLAN on the Microsoft stand caused us a great deal of headaches. The number of wireless devices that we have to connect has grown over the last few years dramatically. This year, thanks to the Meru technology, we had no issues and that is impressive given that the Microsoft stand is located in Hall 4 where we have up to 70,000 visitors per day.”
“Hall 4 is a particularly harsh environment for wireless LAN, as in this hall we have a number of very large exhibitors who are all competing to provide a stable WLAN to their visitors and staff. Despite all of the interference in the air the Meru WLAN technology had everything under control,” added Heiner Sepeur, Managing Director, URANO Informationssysteme GmbH.
“That Meru’s MobileFLEX architecture was able to meet Microsoft’s needs at the at CeBIT, the most challenging of venues, this year, demonstrates the efficacy of the combination of Microsoft, Meru, and our valued partner, IT-Services GmbH,” said Srinath Sarang, Co-Founder and General Manager of Hospitality and Entertainment at Meru.
“The support of mobile devices on the stand worked perfectly. My colleagues and I realized straight away that the WLAN was working very well. In all of the previous years we never had such a reliable WLAN. During the entire show we didn’t have a single issue,” said Philip Xenos, Mobile Business Development Manager, Pica GmbH.
About Meru Networks
Meru Networks (NASDAQ: MERU) designs, delivers and distributes best-of-breed mobile access and virtualized Wi-Fi solutions that are easy to deploy, operate and expand to meet enterprises ever changing mobility requirements. Meru’s MobileFLEX wireless architecture addresses the market demand for higher bandwidth and higher client densities with its innovative virtualized wireless technology, while simultaneously simplifying device onboarding. It also offers flexible and scalable deployment options and the unique support for Context-aware Application Layers (CALs) or dedicated channels for different applications and usage contexts. Meru wireless LAN solutions are deployed in major vertical industries including Fortune 500 businesses, education, healthcare, and hospitality. Founded in 2002, Meru is headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., with operations in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific. Visit www.merunetworks.com or call (408) 215-5300 for more information.