Ascom Wireless Solutions And Ekahau Introduce Wi-Fi-Based Emergency Positioning Solution
Ascom Wireless Solutions (WS) and Ekahau Inc. announced their collaboration on a new Wi-Fi positioning solution. Ekahau's location-based services (Ekahau RTLS) combined with a high-end VoWi-Fi handset i75 from Ascom WS, create a reliable means of locating people in emergency situations.
Several industries, such as manufacturing and healthcare, are already using the Ascom i75 handset and will benefit from this new feature. The system enables locatable handsets within the coverage area of an existing enterprise Wi-Fi network, both indoors and outdoors. The solution does not require any additional infrastructure components, such as additional readers, antennas or chokepoints.
The new Ascom WS/Ekahau positioning solution will help organizations locate people in emergencies. For example, in the event of an accident on a plant floor, the person in need can press the alarm button for assistance or an automatic "man-down" alarm is sent. The position of the person carrying the handset will be then accurately revealed and rapid assistance can be sent.
The open application programmer's interface (API) provides access to the real-time location information by any software application, and enables new location-based services, such as "nearest-person-to-task," work-flow improvement and asset tracking applications.
"We are very pleased that Ascom WS has selected the Ekahau Wi-Fi tracking solution, which offers the ability to locate people over any brand or generation of a standard Wi-Fi network," said Jarmo Ikonen, director of sales, EMEA-APAC at Ekahau. "The Ascom i75 handsets are robust and reliable, and are a perfect fit to our tracking system."
"Integrating Ekahau with the Ascom VoWi-Fi handsets was easy and straightforward as their system is based on the IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi standard," added Henrik Sandberg, product manager at Ascom. " We are very pleased that we now can offer this secure tracking solution to our customers, enhancing personal safety for their employees."
About Ascom Wireless Solutions
ASCOM WIRELESS SOLUTIONS is a leading provider of on-site wireless communications for key industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, retail and hotel. More than 75,000 systems are installed at major companies all over the world. The company offers a broad range of voice and professional messaging solutions, creating value for customers by supporting and optimizing their Mission-Critical processes. The solutions are based on VoWiFi, IP-DECT, DECT, Nurse Call and paging technologies, smartly integrated into existing enterprise systems. The company has subsidiaries in 10 countries and 1,200 employees worldwide. Founded in the 1950s and based in Göteborg, Sweden, Ascom Wireless Solutions is part of the Ascom Group, listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange. www.ascom.com.
About Ekahau Inc.
Ekahau Inc. is the industry leader in providing Wi-Fi-based RTLS solutions. Ekahau's customers, including several Fortune 500 companies worldwide, are realizing the benefits of Wi-Fi based location services and innovative Wi-Fi network planning and optimization tools. Ekahau's solutions are being used in more than 150 hospitals around the world, as well as by manufacturers, mining/oil/gas companies, government agencies and the military. Ekahau partners include wireless software developers, leading system integrators and international OEM partners, who develop and market wireless enterprise applications. Ekahau is a U.S. based corporation, with offices in Saratoga, Calif.; Reston, Va.; Helsinki, Finland; and Hong Kong, China. For more information about Ekahau, please visit at www.ekahau.com.
SOURCE: Ascom Wireless Solutions (WS) and Ekahau Inc.