"The next wave of Internet growth is clearly focused on device centric connectivity," said Joseph Dunsmore, CEO, Digi International. "Our new product announcements and Drop-in Networking initiative clearly position Digi as the technology leader in this long-term growth opportunity."
Customers Deploy Drop-in Networks to Make Remote Device Management Easy
Crown Castle International, a leading independent owner and operator of shared wireless communications and broadcast infrastructure, uses Digi Connect WAN routers to provide wireless wide area networking connectivity to monitor aviation safety lights installed at approximately 4,500 cellular tower sites. These towers sit in remote locations where no wired broadband connections are available.
"Using Digi's commercial grade wireless products and Digi Connectware Manager software platform in combination with cellular data networks, we were able to build Drop-in Networks to monitor approximately 4,500 remote sites," stated Chris Tretter, Crown Castle's Vice President of Operations.
"This wireless Drop-in Network allows us to easily install an Intu! control system into an existing infrastructure in a non-intrusive way," said Lawrence Leete, Director of Sales & Marketing, In-Industry Markets, Light Corporation. "Because the network is wireless, it also significantly reduces the cost and time associated with expanding or re-configuring the lighting system - anywhere from 40 to 80 percent over traditional wired systems. Our wireless platform, built on a Drop-in Network from Digi, provides us with a significant advantage over our competitors in the commercial and industrial lighting and controls space. We're taking something ordinary and mundane - as lighting is viewed by most people - and with Digi's help, turning that commodity into an exciting technology infrastructure that has limitless possibilities outside of the lighting-only realm."
Customers also use Drop-in Networks where wired connections might be available, but are not accessible due to the "red tape" laid down by a third party organization's corporate IT department. For example, Control Products, Inc., an electronics manufacturer that designs and manufactures electronic controls for the foodservice equipment industry, uses Drop-in Networking technology to monitor equipment performance during field trials at customer sites.
"Foodservice operators are reluctant to open their corporate data network to outside parties," said Bob Bruce, CTO, Control Products. "Using Digi's Drop-in Networks,
our customers can bypass the network of the foodservice operators, but still monitor the onsite kitchen equipment using a reliable cellular link back to their own data network. There's no additional wiring and no dependence on the operator's IT infrastructure. These Drop-in Networks have added tremendous value to our overall product offering."
AirAdvice, Inc. offers a turnkey building performance assessment system that identifies opportunities to improve comfort and reduce energy use in commercial buildings. Building on its successful HVAC-IAQ program which focuses on solutions for indoor air quality issues in homes, in 2006 the company launched its Commercial Elite program. This program offers a simple assessment that identifies changes in commercial buildings that can qualify for utility program energy rebates, support LEEDTM program or green building efforts, or simply provide improved occupant satisfaction and reduced operating expenses.
"In researching ways to enhance future product offerings, wireless communications was high on our customers' lists," said Tim Kensok, director of business development at AirAdvice. "As we integrate Digi's Drop-in Networking products into our platform, we will be able to offer our customers a complete wireless solution from a sensor in a building to web access on our server. Because our customers move our system from building to building, the ability to drop in sensors and access data without having to run cables or rely on the existing wired infrastructure is very attractive."
Wireless Carriers Embrace the Power of Drop-in Networking
Network carrier support for existing Drop-in Networking products is strong and reflects a growing interest in commercial grade device connectivity. For instance the ConnectPort WAN product family, an integral part of the Drop-in Networking product line, is now certified by 18 of the world's largest carriers.
The ConnectPort X8 has already passed PTCRB certification for operability on GSM networks and is expected to be certified by the largest wireless carriers, including AT&T/Cingular, Sprint and Verizon, in the third calendar quarter of 2007.
"AT&T is pleased to be a key network provider to make Drop-in Networking a reality," said Hamish Caldwell, executive director of core offers for AT&T's wireless unit. "This solution is a wonderful complement to WWAN capabilities through the nation's largest high-speed wireless network delivered by AT&T. AT&T customers are now able to expand their wireless reach in industrial environments with fewer resources than ever before."
Technology Developers and Service Providers Embrace Drop-In Networking
Many technology developers and application service providers (ASPs) have embraced Drop-in Networking as a revolutionary way to connect to and communicate with remote devices. Developers such as Twisthink, Global Tier and SSI, and ASPs like nPhase and SensorLogic are using Drop-in Network technology to help their customers more efficiently manage their remote assets.
"Drop-in Networks bring a new level of simplicity to the provisioning of Smart Services," said Steve Pazol, VP and GM of nPhase, a Qualcomm business. "These wireless end-to-end networks reduce the barriers to installing device connectivity and more easily enable Smart Services solutions for mainstream markets. By combining Digi's Drop-in Networking products with our offerings, nPhase is able to deliver Smart Service solutions that are tailored to meet the unique needs of each OEM client."
"Drop-in Networks enable the kind of product and business innovation that we strive to deliver for our diverse customer base," added Bob Niemiec of Twisthink LLC. "In partnership with Digi and nPhase, we have designed a wireless workspace command and control system that allows Light Corporation to commercialize a highly differentiated lighting system that uniquely delivers significant usability and cost savings to its customers. The science of Design and the art of Technology have been effectively leveraged to position Light as an industry leader with this new system."
"Wireless control of remote devices creates opportunities for companies to deliver
innovative service value and establish new revenue streams," said Dale Booth, chairman and CEO of SensorLogic, Inc. "We see tremendous value in combining Digi's Drop-in Networking products with our on-demand software platform to enable just these sorts of breakthrough opportunities for our customers."
Drop-in Networking provides Global Tier, a Division of Restaurant Technologies, with a non-intrusive way to network devices and sensors within restaurants and convenience stores. "Our customers would like us to monitor assets like freezers, fryers, coffee equipment, building control systems, and heating bins to enhance visibility and measurement of store performance," said Dave Barczak, general manager of Global Tier. "Because Digi's solution is wireless, it was easy for Global Tier to deploy monitoring and data collection networks into existing sites without running cables and wires and without disturbing the existing data network."
SSI has successfully integrated Digi's embedded ZigBee technology with sensor technologies to provide complete wireless solutions for its OEM customers. "SSI is excited to be a charter member of Digi's Drop-in Networks partner program," said Michele Mordacq, president of SSI. "Our customers are looking for non-intrusive ways to install networked sensors into their customers' sites. Drop-in Networks allow our customers to easily deploy wireless sensor networks for remote site and equipment monitoring."
