Wireless LAN Vendor Outranks Rivals Based on Architecture, Product Portfolio Range, Video Handling

SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 27, 2008 – Meru Networks ranked number one on a new "802.11n Vendor Matrix" report published by ABI Research, edging out second-place Aruba Networks (NASDAQ: ARUN) and placing significantly ahead of Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO).  IEEE 802.11n is the latest industry standard for wireless local-area network products, affording wireless access speeds up to five times greater than the legacy standards IEEE 802.11a/b/g.

Meru earned its top ranking based on its scores on 10 evaluation criteria applied to 802.11n products from 14 wireless LAN vendors.  The company was singled out for its single-channel, "virtual cell" architecture – which eliminates the "handoffs" that lead to lost wireless connections for many vendors – as well as its broad-ranging product family, ease of customer migration from legacy products, and the ability to smoothly handle video transmissions over the WLAN.

Stan Schatt, ABI vice president and networking research director, said the firm's new report, "IEEE 802.11n Update, Forecast and Vendor Evaluation," is "the first really in-depth study to look at all the components that make for product success in the 11n market.  Meru's mature products scored heavily in value-add features – many a direct result of its unique architecture – and earned extra points for its very complete 802.11n product portfolio, including products that ease the migration path by allowing software-only upgrades from 11a/b/g to 11n.  Meru also scored points for its use of dual-band radios, its ability to provide wireless intrusion detection without adding another layer of sensors, and its handling of video – a key criterion in many early adopters' decision to go with 11n."

Since it became the first vendor to ship 802.11n products in August 2007, Meru has announced more than 100 11n deployments, including Morrisville (N.Y.) State College (911 access points) and the University of Miami (511 access points).  According to the ABI report, Meru "has showed major strength overall in the early adopter verticals of higher education and health care.  Its demonstrated ability to handle very dense wireless environments without interference gives it an edge with a number of customers in verticals where dense deployments are the norm."