The WLAN array incorporates a 2-Gbit/s switch that controls the access points, a fixed array of directional antennas with a 60-degree beam and 7 dB gain, said to offer double the range of traditional 802.11 gear, and tri mode 802.11 a/b/g support.

The combination is also touted as offering up to 864 Mbit/s bandwidth. In practice this works out as twelve 802.11a (54 Mbit/s) radios running over 5GHz and four configurable radios running over 5 or 2.4 GHz.

Xirrus was founded in 2003 by Dirk Gates, former founder, chairman and CEO of Xircom Inc., which focused on Ethernet chips. It was acquired by Intel Corp. in 2001.

Gates said Xirrus' approach "makes the business case for full-scale enterprise deployments by maximizing RF capacity, extending coverage area, and reducing complexity and total cost of ownership."

Added Gates, "Current Wi-Fi solutions are not capable of delivering the capacity needed to support the dramatic growth in wireless deployments, portable computing devices and wireless applications. As with wired Ethernet in the 1990s, a revolutionary new approach is needed to move wireless LANs to a capacity-oriented architecture." The architecture uses multiple, nonoverlapping channels for the integrated access points, which gets round the interference problems that would be associated with putting so many radios in a small space. The WLAN array will be offered in three configurations, with an optional centralized management system for managing configurations in multiple unit and multiple site deployments.

First shipments are expected in May and Xirrus (Westlake Village, Calif.) will be supplying the technology through 'leading distributors of enterprise Wi-Fi solutions' and entering OEM agreements with traditional network equipment manufacturers.