Ruckus Wireless grows small business portfolio

Ruckus Wireless has announced a new, entry-level 802.11ac access point along with the expansion and enhancement of its family of Ruckus Unleashed access points. The new products and capabilities make it even easier for small businesses to deploy high-performance Wi-Fi that meets their cost, ease-of-deployment and coverage needs.

Three new products expand the range of high-performance Wi-Fi options available to small businesses:

· Ruckus ZoneFlex R310 is an entry-level, enterprise-class 802.11ac access point. The Ruckus R310 has a low-profile form factor and delivers superior dual-band performance

· Ruckus ZoneFlex R310 Unleashed is a controller-less version of the R310. The access point eliminates the need for separate controllers and access point licenses, significantly reducing upfront costs. A simple web interface featuring a step-by-step set-up guide enables non-IT users to configure Wi-Fi in just 60 seconds and deploy in minutes

· Ruckus ZoneFlex T300 Series Unleashed are controller-less versions of Ruckus’ existing T300 access points, which provide dual-band 802.11ac access for outdoor deployments. The T300 series features a lightweight, low-profile design for easy installation, and will now allow small businesses to add outdoor connectivity to a controller-less Wi-Fi environment.

In conjunction with the new access points, new Ruckus Unleashed features to simplify management of controller-less Wi-Fi networks have been launched. The company is introducing its patented SmartMesh technology to Unleashed. With SmartMesh, small businesses no longer have to run Ethernet wiring to all indoor and outdoor access points, saving both money and time. Ruckus Unleashed also now supports SNMP protocols to easily manage and monitor network elements.

Unlike the stripped-down products for small business offered by competitors, the portfolio of Unleashed access points for small business delivers Wi-Fi performance based on Ruckus’ patented BeamFlex adaptive antenna technology and ChannelFly capacity-based channel selection. BeamFlex and ChannelFly work together to provide stronger Wi-Fi signals over longer ranges, while adapting automatically to environmental changes. This yields more stable connections, higher data rates and more concurrent users per access point.

“Small and mid-size organizations increasingly rely on Wi-Fi to engage customers, deliver services and run their businesses,” said Kash Shaikh, VP of marketing and business development at Ruckus. “Our new products help level the playing field for small businesses, local retailers, coffee shops and restaurants, so they can deliver a high-quality Wi-Fi experience indoors and outdoors – with a much lower total cost of ownership.”

The news builds on the October 2015 launch of Ruckus Unleashed, a controller-less Wi-Fi architecture that reduces ownership costs and delivers up to 50% higher Wi-Fi performance* for small and mid-size business environments. Ruckus Unleashed can manage up to 25 access points as part of a single-site network. Businesses can easily plug and play more Wi-Fi access points as their needs grow – and if multiple sites are needed, Ruckus offers an easy migration path to controller-based Wi-Fi, using the same access points.

“Wi-Fi connectivity has become an absolute requirement for customers and employees of small businesses,” said Nolan Greene, IDC Research Analyst, network infrastructure. “Business owners are often challenged to provide reliable, business-grade networks within a limited budget. Solutions like Ruckus’ new access points provide small and medium business owners with more options – covering the range of needs from indoor to outdoor, controller-based to controller-less, and cost-conscious to performance-driven.”

Interested?

Ruckus Unleashed is now available with three indoor access points – ZoneFlex R310 ($495); ZoneFlex R500 ($645); and ZoneFlex R600 ($795) – and one family of outdoor access points (ZoneFlex T300, T300E, T301N, and T301S). ZoneFlex R310 is available now. The Unleashed versions of ZoneFlex R310 and T300 series will be available in March 2016. All of these access points are also available as part of a controller-based network managed by Ruckus’ ZoneDirector and SmartZone controllers. These controller platforms include user access controls, guest networking functions, advanced Wi-Fi security and traffic management.

Ruckus ZoneFlex and Ruckus Unleashed access points are available through Ruckus’ global distribution network.

Interested?

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about the launch of Ruckus Unleashed

Hashtag: #SimplyBetterWireless.

Ruckus Wireless rolls out controller-less wireless access points for SMB market

Ruckus Wireless has introduced the Ruckus Unleashed access points, which are custom-designed for small business owners. The new access points feature a new architecture that reduces ownership costs and delivers up to 50% higher Wi-Fi performance* for small business environments. 

With the new 'controller-less' access points, the controller technology is built-in. Separate controllers and access point licenses are no longer needed, significantly reducing upfront costs. Setup is also easy, thanks to a simplified web interface that helps businesses configure Wi-Fi in just 60 seconds. As businesses grow to multiple sites, Ruckus further offers an easy migration path to controller-based Wi-Fi, which can leverage the same Wi-Fi access points.

“Ruckus Unleashed access points level the playing field for local retailers, coffee shops, and restaurants, helping them to deliver a high-quality Wi-Fi experience for customers and employees with much lower total cost of ownership,” said Dan Rabinovitsj, Ruckus’ COO. "We’re excited to help small business owners make high-performance Wi-Fi affordable and simple to install and maintain.”

Each access point delivers Wi-Fi performance at extended ranges for up to 512 simultaneously-connected devices. Unleashed access points feature the Smart Wi-Fi technology that has made Ruckus so popular, including patented breakthroughs such as:

· BeamFlex Adaptive antenna technology;
· ChannelFly capacity-based adaptive channel selection;
· Zero-IT Activation automatic user-device configuration; and
· Dynamic PSK Wi-Fi security.

For retail and hospitality environments, Ruckus Unleashed access points deliver fast and reliable broadband Wi-Fi to engage visitors via their mobile devices and ensure easy guest access. An easy-to-use self-service interface provides business owners with insights on Wi-Fi usage, so they can easily optimise the Wi-Fi experience of employees and visitors without the need for dedicated IT staff. As needs grow, the business can easily add more Wi-Fi access points on a 'plug and play' basis, boosting performance without needing to re-configure the network.

“Smart devices are playing a critical role in influencing consumer decisions and behaviors,” said Nolan Greene, IDC Research Analyst, Network Infrastructure. “Wi-Fi connectivity has become an absolute requirement for customers and employees of small businesses, but business owners are often challenged to provide reliable, business-grade networks within a limited budget. A solution like Ruckus Unleashed access points can provide accessible enterprise-grade functionality to small and medium businesses.”

Interested?

Ruckus Unleashed is immediately available with two models of Ruckus access points – ZoneFlex R500 Unleashed and ZoneFlex R600 Unleashed – priced at US$645 and US$795, respectively. The Unleashed version of these access points have similar prices to the standard R500 and R600 versions so buyers basically receive the controller capability at no additional cost. 

Hashtag: #SimplyBetterWireless

*Up to 50% performance improvement in Ruckus internal testing of radio frequency versus Aruba Instant

Use PC or Mac apps from iOS, Android devices

Source: Parallels website.

Parallels has updated its Parallels Access app for remote access to PCs and Macs* on both iOS and Android platforms, a move targeted at various user segments including professionals who want to travel light, but still access all their computer files on the go.

Parallels Access transforms mobile devices into more powerful computing machines by allowing them to remotely run any application, edit documents, and search through and access all the files on a remote computer through a universal file manager. It also allows users to tap any computer with a web browser to access and run everything on a remote computer without requiring any plug-ins or extensions. 

“The need to do more on mobile devices has been a growing trend among both consumers and business professional alike. Our latest Parallels Access update brings new features that make it easier than ever before to get work done with native touch gestures on mobile devices, as well as from any computer with a web browser,” said Jack Zubarev, President of Parallels. “Parallels Access makes every application and file on your remote work and home computers available at your fingertips no matter where you are, so you can be productive on the go.”

“As the market shifts increasingly towards mobile applications, solutions that can further turn a mobile device into a powerful computer are becoming increasingly necessary,” said Laura DiDio, IT Analyst and Principal of ITIC. “The latest update to Parallels Access further extends this invaluable functionality to make the practice of working remotely from your mobile device more efficient and powerful.”

Additional features for both Android and iOS include:

· Universal File Manager with local file support, cloud storage, file previews and access to photos

· New “remoteless” connection for File Manager–connect to a computer to access files without taking over the screen

· Ability to transfer files from a remote computer to other apps on iOS and Android

· Enhanced file preview for files on a remote computer–now supports Microsoft Office files

· Improved Wake-on-LAN feature which offers additional ways to wake a remote computer

· Ability to work with multiple monitors in a web-browser session from a remote computer allowing the user to switch between available displays, or see them all at once

· Access to photos on a mobile device from the desktop agent, including the ability to take photos and copy them to a remote computer

Additional updates for iOS only include:

· Universal support for portrait and landscape for enhanced usability

· New OneDrive support for cloud storage in addition to existing support for Google Drive and Dropbox providing consumers additional options

· File previews in icons through File Manager for easier navigation

· 64-bit support for new CPU architecture on iOS devices

Interested?

Parallels Access 3.0 is available in the Apple iTunes App Store and on Google Play with a one week free trial. Individual subscriptions are available for purchase for US$19.99 for one year or US$34.99 for two years. Users can access up to five remote computers from an unlimited number of iOS and Android tablets and phones or computers with a modern web browser. As a limited-time offer, new customers who purchase Parallels Access can get a two-year subscription for US$29.99.

*Hardware requirements:
iPad: iPad mini 2 and iPad 2 or later running iOS 7 or later
iPhone: iPhone 4s and later running iOS 7 or later
Android: most tablets and phones running Android 5.0

Remote computers can be a PC running Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8 or Windows 7, or a Mac running OS X El Capitan (experimental support), OS X Yosemite (10.10) or OS X Mavericks (10.9).

Agent upgrades will happen automatically once the update becomes available or users will be notified immediately if not. Parallels recommends users update their client software on their mobile devices following agent upgrades on their computers to ensure compatibility.

Prefer Macs? Acronis Access Connect lets you use them with PCs and mobile devices

Acronis, a data protection specialist, today unveiled Acronis Access Connect – a file and print sharing solution for businesses. Acronis Access Connect (formerly ExtremeZ-IP) integrates Macs into businesses.

With this new release, Acronis Access Connect adds broad support for mobile workers to securely access files using iOS, Android, and Windows phones and tablets. This combined support across the range of PC, Mac and mobile platforms lets employees keep using the devices they love, while enabling IT departments to deliver a seamless, scalable, and problem-free file server access and print sharing experience for users.

With Acronis Access Connect, mobile workers and road warriors can now access their work files wherever they need them using the intuitively designed Access Connect mobile clients for iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices. Minimal or no end user training is required for mobile users, especially those familiar with Mac and Windows file sharing environments.

For IT managers and professionals, Acronis Access Connect eliminates SMB protocol bugs, performance issues and compatibility problems related to integrating Macs into Windows environments, reducing help desk calls by as much as 70%. Acronis Access Connect installs in a matter of minutes on Windows servers, delivering immediate time-to-value for IT administrators and support personnel. The solution allows employees to be more productive when working with files on their PCs, Macs and mobile devices – as they choose.

As bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies continue to transform the way employees work worldwide, Macs in the workplace are becoming more common. A 2014 survey of 376 IT professionals conducted by Dimensional Research found that user preference is the top reason given by IT administrators for supporting Macs. The survey also found that 66% of businesses are already using Macs today, and more than 70% officially support Macs as a company endpoint.

While many employees clearly prefer Macs, there are challenges from an IT perspective when it comes to file sharing, including compatibility, search performance issues, and a poor user experience. Acronis Access Connect allows Mac users to take advantage of key features they expect when connecting to Windows or networked attach storage (NAS) file servers, including:

· Fast, full content searching using Network Spotlight
· Automatic backups using Time Machine
· Fast browsing of network shares
· Glitch-free operations when using key applications, such as Microsoft Office or Adobe Creative Suite

“Acronis Access Connect cures two of the biggest IT headaches when it comes to file sharing,” said Serguei Beloussov, CEO, Acronis. “First, we help IT support the increasing numbers of Mac users by virtually eliminating file sharing support issues, and second, we have opened up filer server access across any device – empowering all of your employees to work and collaborate from anywhere.”

Interested?

View the associated video. 

CyberArk: Sharing your network with third parties can let the hackers in

CyberArk, which protects organisations from cyber attacks, has released a new security brief discussing the danger of providing third party vendors with access to the corporate network.

Source: CyberArk. View the complete infographic here.

“It’s no secret that attackers target the weakest links in IT security, which are often found in accounts provisioned to third-parties for network access,” said John Worrall, Chief Marketing Officer, CyberArk. “Often, these smaller third-party organisations have less sophisticated security policies and controls than the target companies, providing an open backdoor for attackers. With the proper privileged account security controls in place, organisations can provide the network access required for business efficiency while maintaining consistent security across all types of accounts – internal and external.”

According to CyberArk, hackers often target third-party vendors and supply chain partners in their quest to attack a particular target. Organisations in every industry provide network access to third-party vendors, which range from services companies and suppliers to external consultants. Attackers target these less-secure partners to compromise remote access points, steal and exploit privileged credentials, and gain access to targeted networks. From here, attackers can completely circumvent the targeted company’s defences.

The brief, Securing Remote Vendor Access with Privileged Account Security, can be downloaded here.

Parallels Access 2.5 now available on Google Play and App Store worldwide

Source: Parallels website.

Parallels, a cross-platform solution provider, has made Parallels Access 2.5 available on Google Play and the App Store worldwide. Parallels Access enables users to be effective anytime and anywhere, even with a mobile device or a borrowed computer. 

The company says Access works well with 3G connections, and has applification” technology that lets users run desktop applications as if they were native apps for the iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

The app includes new features such as a universal file manager, computer-to-computer remote access and more support for Samsung devices. The new release also supports the recently released OS X Yosemite and Windows 10 Technical Preview.

“In our new era of even more devices, interfaces and form factors, it is extremely important for people to have a consistent application experience from any device, anywhere. Today’s workers need tools that connect the applications they depend on with devices and services from multiple platforms for a seamless user experience,” said Parallels President Jack Zubarev. 

Features include:

· Universal file manager: A cross-platform mobile experience for accessing all your files across remote locations, including computers and the cloud (iOS today, Android soon). Most local and remote files can be previewed.

· Samsung Galaxy Tab S and Galaxy Note 4: Access your computer and files from Samsung’s latest phones and tablets. There is full support for S Pen input on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge.

· iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus: Optimised for new iPhone screen sizes and resolutions.

· Kindle Fire: Optimised for Kindle Fire.

· Sound where you want it: Users decide where they want to hear audio – on the mobile device or the computer.

View the associated videos here (iOS), here (Android) and here (computer to computer).

Parallels Access 2.5 is available now on the App Store, Google Play, Samsung Galaxy Apps and the Amazon Appstore for Android with a two-week free trial. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Galaxy Note Edge customers receive a free six-month subscription to Parallels Access as part of their Galaxy Gifts. Current customers get Parallels Access 2.5 for free. 

Individual subscriptions are available for S$25.98 for one year or S$44.98 for two years, and they include the ability to access up to five remote computers from an unlimited number of iOS and Android tablets and phones, and an unlimited number of computer-to-computer connections. 

Parallels Access for Business is available for a 30-day free trial, after which it costs S$59 for five computers and unlimited devices. 

NEXT Hotel Brisbane offers smartphone-based room access

SilverNeedle Hospitality’s flagship NEXT Hotels brand is redesigning the guest experience with DOCOMO interTouch, offering guests more freedom and control with mobile guest services through the NEXT App mobile app. 

Part of that new freedom includes enabling the first NEXT Hotels property in Brisbane's Queen Street Mall to allow guests to open their room doors using their smartphones as room keys. NEXT Hotel Brisbane, which accepted guests from 24 September, is the first hotel in Australia to offer such a service.

Source: Next Hotel Brisbane website.

"Our NEXT Hotels brand is dedicated to providing the ultimate guest experience, and that requires us to effectively combine the use of space, technology and service to ensure that every moment is memorable and stress-free," said Iqbal Jumabhoy, Managing Director and Group CEO of Singapore-based SilverNeedle Hospitality. "It's all about giving travellers the freedom to choose how they want to experience our hotels.”

SilverNeedle Hospitality is also launching the NEXT App, which contains the "room key". The NEXT App, available in both Android and iOS versions, works with free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel to allow guests to request hotel services through their smartphones – from making a room reservation, entering the room, controlling in-room gadgets and ordering room service, to checking out of the hotel. 

Prior to arriving at NEXT Hotel Brisbane, guests can check in using the NEXT App; select their preferred rooms or accept the pre-assigned rooms; and receive their own room key codes on their smartphones, bypassing the conventional check-in process to get to their rooms.

"The NEXT Hotels are truly innovative in their delivery of guest technology and they have been a real pleasure to work with," said Charles Reed, CEO of DOCOMO interTouch.

The NEXT App interconnects all the systems and services with the hotel so guests do not have to be physically in their hotel rooms to manage their stay. The integrated NEXT Technology allows them to change the TV channel, set the mood lighting, adjust the room temperature or order their next meal. If they don’t want the housekeeping staff to freshen up their rooms, they can activate the ‘Do Not Disturb’ indicator even when they are away from the hotel. Guests can also watch their favourite movies and stream their desired content securely on the Samsung Smart TV available in every room.

Guests who prefer not to use their own smartphones during their stay can use the NEXT App on Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphones as part of the NEXT Connect service that is provided in every NEXT Room at no extra charge. This NEXT Connect App also has features that can be used outside the hotel. The HotSpot feature provides free WiFi for guests’ smartphones and laptops outside the hotel, for example. 

The phone system also provides access to free local calls and cheaper international calling rates with no additional roaming charges. Plus, the NEXT Service offers online concierge assistance to book a taxi around the city, order room service on their way back to the hotel or make an in-room massage appointment.

The NEXT App can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. For further details or to make a booking, please activate the NEXT App or visit nexthotels.com/brisbane.