Tropos Introduces TMCX Version 2 Enabling Mobile Client Optimization in Metro Wi-Fi Networks

Tropos Networks has issued Tropos Metro Compatible Extensions Version 2 (TMCX v2), a new edition of its TMCX specification. Accordinbg to the company, TMCX v2 improves mobile and embedded Wi-Fi client performance when the clients connect to metro-scale Wi-Fi networks. Also, Tropos announced that Atheros XSPAN technology is the first Wi-Fi solution that meets the high standards of the new Tropos TMCX v2 criteria.

Tropos developed and released its original TMCX specification in May 2006. It provides a best-practices guide for device manufacturers and chip vendors building in-home Wi-Fi modems that connect to metro-scale Wi-Fi networks. Currently, devices from Ruckus Wireless and PePWave are TMCX-certified.

TMCX v2 enhances mobility and voice quality of service for compliant Wi-Fi clients. In addition, the specification covers a broader range of client devices, including dual-mode phones, Wi-Fi NICs for laptop computers, PDAs, and Wi-Fi enabled consumer electronic devices. Wi-Fi and dual-mode phones, as well as other mobile client devices, require the ability to move throughout a citywide Wi-Fi network without the user experiencing any service interruption. TMCX v2 focuses on enabling mobility and outlines proper rate selection, roaming behavior, and security options.

The Atheros AR5008-3NG is a high-performance MIMO wireless cardbus client. The design is 802.11n Draft 2.0-compliant and backward compatible with 802.11b/g networks. Featuring enhanced performance with Atheros XSPAN with Signal-Sustain Technology (SST), the wireless client is optimized for higher throughput at long range. XSPAN enhances bandwidth performance to support a wide variety of data applications ranging from simple network computing to transmission of large data, music and image files. In addition, the card can quickly roam between Tropos MetroMesh routers, maintaining the user session and keeping applications up and running for the end user.

"The metro-scale Wi-Fi environment is very different from home and office settings, yet users want great connection quality using a wide range of Wi-Fi enabled devices," says Chris Rittler, vice president of business development and carrier sales at Tropos Networks. "Our carrier customers also need client devices with reliable connectivity to ensure customer satisfaction, so it was a logical next step to extend TMCX to address the broad range of Wi-Fi enabled mobile consumer devices. We are excited that a market leader such as Atheros has created a TMCX v2 compliant design that a broad range of client device manufacturers can leverage in the marketplace."

Tropos has leveraged their experience in over 500 network deployments worldwide to identify what makes a Wi-Fi client work great. Since TMCX is not proprietary, it allows a vendor to refine their designs and extend them to include the metro-scale Wi-Fi use case while maintaining standards compliance.