3.5G wireless connects remote devices, mobile equipment

Lantronix Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRX), a provider of smart networking and communications products for machine-to-machine (M2M) applications, announced the launch and availability of the Lantronix PremierWave XC HSPA+ (3.5G) device – a high speed intelligent gateway and application server designed for easy mobile and remote device connectivity, and rapid application development and deployment. (XC stands for external cellular.) The product, announced on Sept. 4, is the latest addition to the Lantronix PremierWave family, which uses 3.5G cellular/mobile technology, bringing M2M connectivity to devices and equipment previously unable to be connected through wired or Wi-Fi connectivity.

HSPA stands for high speed packet access, which is a family of high-speed 3G and 4G digital data services available to GSM (global system for mobile communications) carriers worldwide. The service works with HSPA cellphones as well as laptops and portable devices with HSPA modems. Although based on wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) mobile protocol, HSPA is a major enhancement with more channels and different modulation and coding techniques. In addition, HSPA can recover faster from errors than WCDMA, Lantronix said. HSPA+, also called "I-HSPA" and "HSPA Evolved," is designated as a 4G technology. In the United States, it is available under AT&T Mobility and T-Mobile U.S.

“Our business relies on our ability to monitor, manage, and control all equipment, in real time. This is especially true for those devices and machines housed in either extremely remote locations around the world, or highly-confined areas within buildings and remote structures, where current market solutions, such as wired Ethernet or even Wi-Fi, cannot address,” said Roy Moore, CEO of Fluid Measurement Inc. “Lantronix’ new cellular solution is exactly what’s needed to solve both issues, given its 3G+ capabilities, industrial-grade design, Ethernet-to-cellular routing, and enterprise level security. We look forward to a seamless and successful roll-out.”

“Axeda and Lantronix share the same core principle for M2M – customers need to quickly and easily deploy their solutions. Towards that end, our engineers have worked together to offer the PremierWave XC HSPA+ Intelligent Gateway as ‘Axeda Ready,’ allowing our customers to enjoy a proven M2M hardware solution coupled with the flexibility and power of the Axeda M2M platform,” said Joe Biron, vice president for technology and innovation at Axeda.

“Our solutions must withstand the harshest marine environment – from deep sea wind gusts and heavy rains to large swings in temperature to highly volatile environments. As such, product ruggedness, feature robustness and reliability are a must,” said Paul Wartnaby, director at Offshore Ops Ltd., a U.K. and South Africa-based company specializing in software and hardware solutions for terminal, salvage, and bunker operations. “Given its 3G+ capabilities, industrial-grade design and enterprise level security, Lantronix’ new cellular solution is exactly what’s needed to solve communication issues where local wireless regulators restrict effective wireless links.”

For security, the product has SSL v3 and SSH v2 for client and server and supports up to 2,048-bit certificates. In addition encryption is AES, 3DES, and RC4, and authentication is SHA-1, MDS, Base-64 user access lists, according to the specification sheet.

About the product family, applications

The Lantronix PremierWave XC family is designed for applications in telematics, industrial automation, healthcare, energy, utilities, and other markets. The product enables remote access and management of virtually any serial equipment or device through the use of the Lantronix device server application suite and optional custom programming environment. The PremierWave family also serves applications deployed in areas that do not have an Ethernet or Wi-Fi infrastructure, or for installations that have such connectivity and rely on cellular for failover backup, ensuring redundancy.

Lantronix PremierWave XC HSPA+ highlights include:

• Penta-band UMTS/HSPA+ (UMTS stands for universal mobile telecommunications system.)

• Quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE (GPRS stands for general packet radio service. EDGE stands for enhanced data rates for GSM evolution.)

• Ethernet-to-cellular routing

• Ethernet-to-cellular failover and failback

• SMS: Shoulder tap, relay control, event notification, and tunneling (SMS stands for short message service.)

• Dual network connectivity (wired Ethernet and cellular) for flexibility and redundancy

• Unique design for quick and easy connectivity to most devices with a serial port

• Extended temperature range for industrial applications

• 5-year limited warranty.

“The launch of the new PremierWave XC HSPA+ furthers our strategy of leveraging the convergence of mobility and M2M systems, expands our cellular offering, and greatly extends our cellular market reach – enabling us to capitalize on what is one of the fastest growing segments in M2M,” said Kurt Busch, president and CEO for Lantronix. “With new channels in place, and a design that provides a seamless migration path as carriers bring next generation solutions to market, we look forward to PremierWave’s success in this rapidly growing market.”

More about Lantronix

Lantronix original equipment manufacturer (OEM) modules and enterprise connectivity products enable machines, devices, and sensors to be securely accessed, managed, monitored, and controlled. Easy to integrate and deploy, the company said its products enable customers to capitalize on the convergence of mobility with M2M systems and to participate in the Internet of Things (IoT). Lantronix products are used for security, industrial, and building automation, transportation, energy, retail, financial, government, consumer electronics, medical, and information technology industries. Founded in 1989, Lantronix has its headquarters in Irvine, Calif.

– Edited by Mark T. Hoske, content manager, CFE Media, Control Engineering, Plant Engineering, and Consulting-Specifying Engineer, mhoske@cfemedia.com.

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