WNA

Ruckus Wireless today unveiled a Cloud-based Smart Wi-Fi Access Management Service (SAMS) that gives organizations the power to manage and monetize Wi-Fi services from a ‘point-and-click’ Cloud-based portal.

Ruckus says SAMS delivers a simple, Web-based portal that allows highly customized Wi-Fi access services to be created in a matter of minutes.

Instead of requiring WLAN controllers, authentication servers, captive portals, advertising engines and content filtering, Ruckus puts it all into the Cloud.

The Ruckus Smart Wireless Services combines all the infrastructure and service elements. It can create single or multiple sites, layering Cloud-based control with Ruckus SPoT™ location services, as well as virtualized management. It also allows easy migration to revenue-based service.

Ruckus is targeting organizations and venues offering managed public wireless access, such as shopping malls, stadiums, convention centers, airports and retail outlets.

At the heart of SAMS is the Ruckus SmartCell Gateway (SCG), hosted within the Cloud in partnership with Global Reach, a carrier-class wireless management platform. It works transparently with Ruckus ZoneFlex Smart Wi-Fi access points and/or on-premises Ruckus ZoneDirector WLAN controllers.

Unlike other Cloud-based Wi-Fi services, if the access points can’t reach the Cloud controller, local access services are not disrupted.

Once the service is configured through a wizard driven setup, Ruckus Smart Wi-Fi access points automatically “phone home” to register with the Cloud controller.

Customers have complete control over service branding and functionality, such as the ability to enable authentication with popular social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Service can be limited by length and number of sessions, bandwidth consumption or filter access to specific content.

Ruckus says their Cloud-managed system also represents a new managed services opportunity for channel partners.

Available worldwide beginning in May, the Ruckus Smart Access Management Service (SAMS) is priced on a yearly subscription basis per access point (for either a 1, 3 or 5 year subscription period), with 24/7 customer support included.

As a fully public access Cloud service, where WLAN management is required, SAMS is priced at $265.50 (USD) per AP per year. For environments where local WLAN management is already provided, SAMS cloud-based public access services are priced at $180 (USD) per access point per year.

Ruckus Wireless has patented a specially designed dynamic RF propagating antenna system with beamforming.

Tikona Digital Networks built the world’s largest self-organizing outdoor Wi-Fi mesh network, using over 40,000 Ruckus ZoneFlex™ access points across more than 30 cities in India.

IDC estimates that the worldwide enterprise market for Cloud-managed WLAN infrastructure and managed services is expected to reach $2.5 billion by 2018.

Related Dailywireless articles include; Ad-Sponsored WiFi Initiatives from Gowex & Facebook, Comcast Creates Hotspot 2.0 National Network, WiFi & Hotspot 2.0 at MWC, Hotspot 2.0 Moves Out, NYC & Cable Provide Hotspot 2.0 Service, Cities of San Jose and Santa Clara Get Free WiFi, Free Google WiFi for NYC Chelsea Neighborhood, Cloud4Wi: Cloud-Managed, Geo-enabled Hotspots, Cloud-based WiFi: $100 a Pop , Meraki Cloud Managed Security, Cisco: 200 Mobile Providers Delivering Wi-Fi, Time Warner Cable to Double WiFi Hotspots in 2013, AT&T: 40,000 Small Cells, Microsoft Sponsors Free WiFi in NYC & SF, Chicago Announces Free WiFi in Parks, Hotspot 2.0, Cellular/WiFi Roaming Gets Real, Street light Provides Wi-Fi, Cell Coverage, Hotspot 2.0, Intel: Basestation in the Cloud, Clearwire: On the Hot Zone, Sprint to use LightRadio for Small Cells,