Digi International (NASDAQ:DGII) today introduced the Connect WAN Sync, a commercial grade wireless WAN router designed primarily for the automated teller machine (ATM) market. The Connect WAN Sync provides a secure, wireless WAN connection for reliable connectivity to remote ATM machines.
It features both a synchronous and an Ethernet port allowing customers to deploy a single solution for new and legacy ATM machines.
"The ATM industry association (ATMIA) estimates that there are more than 1.5 million ATM machines in use today, and the trend is moving towards wireless to enable a large percentage of these devices," said Larry Kraft, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Digi International. "Many organizations charged with managing ATM machines are already realizing the benefits of wire-free networking, such as reduced monthly costs, quicker/easier installation and more freedom to easily re-locate ATM machines. Our solution is secure and easy to use, making it easy for companies to enjoy these benefits for both newer IP-enabled ATMs as well as legacy machines equipped only with a synchronous port. The Ethernet port provides a migration path from a legacy bisync machine to a new IP-based machine without any changes to the network."
One way the Connect WAN Sync can reduce an organization's monthly costs is by eliminating expensive leased line and dial line expenses. Because ATM machines use a very small amount of data per transaction, it allows users to take advantage of the new "pay as you go" data plans offered by wireless carriers. Average ATM machines typically use less than five megabytes per month, which could translate to $15 or less per ATM. In comparison, a leased line could cost $80 per month for low speed frame relay and up to $400 per month for multi-drop lines. Digi combines wireless connectivity and conversion of existing protocols to IP in one box, which provides additional savings by removing the costs for extra conversion equipment.
Because it is wireless, the Connect WAN Sync also makes it easier to relocate ATM machines - organizations can simply move ATM machines anytime to a more desirable high-traffic location. Its small size (about the size of your palm) makes it easy to deploy inside of ATM machines with limited space.
"It is easier to implement a wireless installation than a wired solution," Kraft added. "It can be extremely difficult, time consuming and expensive to run wires to each ATM location. The wiring process typically makes up a high percentage of the total cost of ownership. You also have to wait for the phone company to get everything turned on and then hope it all works. With our solution, installations can take less than an hour. You simply plug the Connect WAN Sync in, and it is ready to go."
The Connect WAN Sync is the newest member of the Connect WAN family of wireless WAN routers. It supports GSM/GPRS/EDGE (worldwide) and CDMA 1xRTT cellular networks. It offers both an Ethernet port for new IP ATM machines and synchronous port with support for Bisync protocol with 3270/3275 emulation for interfacing to legacy devices. It also features advanced security options including integrated VPN using IPSec (DES, 3DES, AES) and SSL, and is ideal for organizations that demand the highest level of secure network connectivity to their remote ATM machines. In addition to standard cellular modem communications, the Connect WAN Sync also offers local intelligence with features such as network routing, SureLink (for persistent connections) and firewall. Advanced features include TCP/UDP, DHCP support, NAT, port forwarding, GRE protocol tunneling and access control lists.
The Connect WAN Sync is supported by the Connectware Manager, an enterprise-class management platform that provides customers with the ability to manage thousands of devices and their wireless connections. Connectware makes it easier to deploy and administer devices over a wireless wide area network, in a secure, easy to use, scalable fashion.