Ruckus Wireless Introduces High-Speed Wi-Fi Wall Switch

Ruckus Wireless introduced a Wi-Fi Wall Switch (the ZoneFlex 7025) that integrates high speed 802.11n Wi-Fi technology with wired Ethernet ports into an elegant, inconspicuous and low-profile wall jack that fits into any standard United States or European electrical junction box.

The Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch redefines the deployment model and cost structure for hotels looking to converge their wired and wireless networks into a single infrastructure capable of reliably connecting a new world of in-room IP-based devices and services.

Complementing the Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch, the company also today unveiled its new ZoneSwitch line of affordable 802.3at/af power over Ethernet (POE) switches.

The Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch was purposely developed to meet the growing demands within hotels to connect in-room devices that are now IP-enabled while concurrently supporting a broader range of IP-based services. Beyond high-speed Internet access (HSIA), hotels want to deliver these new services - such as high definition television and video on demand (VOD), digital advertising, voice communications, hotel service optimization, in-room device monitoring and even environmental room controls - over a single, unified and centrally managed wired/wireless network.

With the Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch, hotels have a simple in-room device that addresses these requirements and solves IT problems that have long hampered hotels such as:

• Operating disparate wired and wireless networks,
• Unsightly cables and network devices within hotel guest rooms,
• Installing more Ethernet cables in guest rooms and other areas to connect new IP-based devices,
• Running additional Ethernet cabling to support standalone Wi-Fi access points,
• Deploying in-room switches and other infrastructure necessary for network connectivity and,
• Retrofitting furniture and hotel aesthetics to hide or accommodate networking equipment.

The Ruckus ZoneFlex Wi-Fi Wall Switch is also ideal for filling "void areas" within hotels and schools such as corners of buildings, conference rooms and other locations where ubiquitous wired and wireless coverage is not pervasive. For many hotels, Ethernet access is conference rooms is typically handled by bringing in switch to provide wired connectivity if wireless isn't available. The Ruckus ZoneFlex Wi-Fi Wall Switch eliminates this problem allowing multiple devices to connect using both wires and Wi-Fi. In addition the Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch is perfect for service providers and property owners seeking to deliver high value IP-based services to their customers.

Hotels that have deployed an extensive wired Ethernet network often need more ports to connect new IP-enabled devices and to support new multimedia services. Ethernet switches can be installed in guest rooms, but this requires more power, can be disruptive and often involves custom furniture design to hide the devices. This adds significant cost, complexity and management problems.

According to industry estimates, running a single Ethernet cable can cost up to $250 per guest room. When Wi-Fi access points, network switches, and other infrastructure products essential to running a computer network are added that cost can rise to $500 or more per room. The Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch effectively cuts this cost in half.

For many hoteliers, Wi-Fi has been an afterthought to the wired network with access points being retrofitted throughout the property to provide a base level of wireless connectivity to guests. But as many new services and hotel devices embrace IP as the preferred method of connectivity and management, the requirement for a unified wired and wireless network has quickly become a necessity.

Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch is driven by a single POE connection and provides four 10/100 Mbps Ethernet jacks and two uplink Ethernet wiring options. Additionally, the Ruckus Wi-Fi Wall Switch uses POE to power a device such as an IP phone and provides native connectivity to digital phone through a single digital PBX pass through port.

Completely interoperable with Ruckus ZoneFlex APs, the ZoneSwitch comes in two models. The ZoneSwitch 4224 offers 360 watts of power over Ethernet and supports 12 concurrent IEEE 802.3at connections across all ports. The ZoneSwitch 4124 offers 180 watts of power over Ethernet and supports 12 concurrent IEEE 802.3af connections across all ports. The Ruckus ZoneSwitch line will support central management through the Ruckus FlexMaster system

With the addition of the ZoneFlex Wi-Fi Wall Switch and ZoneSwitch line of POE, Ruckus offers an unmatched solution for the hospitality industry that includes: indoor and outdoor smart Wi-Fi access points, scalable centralized controllers, multimedia video adapters, long-range point to point bridges and remote Wi-Fi management.