TROPOS EXTENDS PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP WITH INTRODUCTION OF 802.11N COMPATIBLE OUTDOOR WIRELESS MESH ROUTERS

List Price Reductions of Up to 29 Percent on Legacy Fixed Wireless Routers

Sunnyvale, CA – April 7, 2009 –Tropos Networks, the market leader in wireless IP broadband mesh networks, announced immediate availability of a new line of routers that support 802.11n.  The routers combine powerful capabilities of the 802.11n draft standard, custom-built, outdoor-optimized radios, and the patented Tropos Mesh OS to deliver the highest outdoor performance available.  The 802.11n-based routers are fully interoperable with Tropos’ existing line of fixed and mobile mesh routers, used worldwide by utilities and municipalities to build greener, safer, smarter communities.

By adding the powerful 802.11n technology to its routers, Tropos further increases its leadership in product performance.  Tropos’ previous generation of 802.11a/b/g wireless broadband routers have consistently outperformed competing products by two to three times in field tests conducted by customers and third parties.  The attributes of system performance assessed include latency, availability, coverage, and client access. 

Tropos’ 802.11n Based Products Proven to Deliver Superior Performance
Tropos 802.11n compatible routers have been operational in customers’ production networks for more than six months.  Below is a summary of actual field test results of the new routers in a live customer network with low-power mobile clients and smart phones. 

• Latency reduction of up to 50 percent within the mesh, and dramatic increases in throughput
• An increase of over 20% in coverage area, and higher data rates within the coverage footprint
• Two to three times gains in uplink performance as a result of greater signal strength – applicable to both 802.11n and legacy 802.11b/g clients

“We installed Tropos 6320 and 7320 routers and they just worked,” said Richard Gracyk, network administrator for the City of Lompoc, California. “It took us about ten minutes to remove an old router and hang a new one; the new nodes immediately and seamlessly meshed with our existing network.  To test the performance of the Tropos 6320, we replaced a cluster of our Tropos 5210 nodes with 6320s, and saw a node-to-node throughput increase from 6 Mbps to 15 Mbps.  The new cluster has operated without any issues and we have had no calls for service from our customers.”

“Savannah’s public safety department has been using Tropos to connect video surveillance cameras and for field officer communications with excellent results,” said Brad Goodman, network manager for the City of Savannah, Georgia.  “Video is a high-bandwidth application and as we add additional cameras to the network, the Tropos 6320 provides the high level of node-to-node performance we want.  As we add additional municipal and digital inclusion projects to the network, this is an important consideration.”

Tropos 802.11n Compatible Routers
Each of the new line of routers can be deployed as a gateway or a node and incorporates robust capabilities of the 802.11n draft standard.

Tropos 7320 Outdoor Mesh Router – a high performance dual radio (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) router with flexible configuration options.  Its modular form factor can accommodate different types of antennas depending upon desired coverage area, and its flexible power input simplifies site design and power source planning.  Two integrated Ethernet ports can supply Power over Ethernet (PoE), eliminating the need for separate power connections and simplifying the deployment of utility metering collectors, video cameras, and capacity injection devices.  An optional integrated battery backup module provides even greater system resiliency.

Tropos 6320 Outdoor Mesh Router - a high-performance fixed configuration dual radio (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) router that supports mesh and client connectivity on both bands for superior performance, resiliency and capacity.  Its light weight and compact design allows it to be mounted almost anywhere, simplifying deployment.

Tropos 6310 Outdoor Mesh Router – a high-performance fixed configuration single radio (2.4 GHz) router that provides an economic solution for networks with lighter traffic loads or for fill-in connectivity in larger scale networks.  Similar to the Tropos 6320, it is light weight and has a compact design, simplifying deployment and enabling mounting almost anywhere.

Customers
The new lines of 802.11n based routers were designed to be fully backward compatible enabling any combination of Tropos routers to participate in the same broadband mesh network -- for example, often the 7320 will be selected for installation as a gateway, or where there is a third party device connected directly for power, or where there is need for high resiliency and battery backup.  The 6320/6310 routers will typically be selected as mesh nodes with their smaller, light weight form factor which simplifies installation, and where battery backup or POE power sourcing is not needed.

Tropos designed the new line of 802.11n based routers to be fully backward compatible, enabling any combination of Tropos routers to participate in the same broadband mesh network.  This provides investment protection for customers and enables them to selectively add the new routers as the need for higher performance or expanded coverage is required.

In addition to the cities of Lompoc and Savannah, customers using the new Tropos 802.11n based routers today include Fullerton, CA, and Google (Mountain View, CA).  There are also several customers with pilot installations of the new products.

Tom Ayers, president and CEO of Tropos.  “We are extremely excited about the performance results of our new products and the potential applications they open up for our customers.”

Significant Price Reduction on Legacy Routers
Tropos is announcing list prices have been reduced up to 29 percent on select models of its legacy outdoor wireless broadband routers which provide support for 802.11a/b/g.  The price changes are effective immediately; customers should contact their Tropos reseller for details.

About Tropos Networks, Inc.
Tropos® Networks is the worldwide market leader in wireless IP broadband mesh networks.  Its solutions create greener, safer, smarter IP foundations for deployment of high-value applications that increase efficiencies and reduce operational costs.  Greener – smart grid, automated meter reading and intelligent transportation systems.  Safer – mobile public safety communications and IP video surveillance.  Smarter – enabling mobile workers to easily access the same information in the field as from their office.  Tropos delivers the highest levels of reliability, scalability, and security in the industry with more than 750 customers in over 30 countries.  Founded in 2000, Tropos Networks is headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information, please visit www.tropos.com, call 408-331-6800 or write to info@tropos.com.  Tropos is a registered trademark of Tropos Networks, Inc.