News Release

Cisco and Toshiba Drive Standards-based, Secure Wireless LAN Connectivity to Mobile Business Professionals

Introducing New Toshiba Tecra and Portege Notebooks Integrated with Cisco Aironet 350 Series Mini-PCI Client Adapter
cisco_building_corporate_002-jpg-1889882-1-0
Sep 18, 2001

SAN JOSE and IRVINE, Calif., September 18, 2001 - Cisco Systems, Inc., the worldwide leader in networking for the Internet, and the Computer Systems Group (CSG) of Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS), today announced that the Toshiba Tecra 9000 Series and Portigi 4000 Series notebook PCs are the first to offer built-in Cisco Aironet 350 Series Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) technology and "out of the box" wireless networking support for the IEEE 802.1x security standard. Cisco Aironet enterprise-ready technology integrated into Toshiba's notebook PCs accelerates the adoption and availability of high-speed, secure wireless local area networks (LAN) in the enterprise and public spaces. This is especially beneficial to mobile business professionals who require simple, automatic and secure wireless connectivity to the Internet and their corporate intranet while on the move.

Cisco also announced its first Mini-PCI embedded offering from the industry leading Cisco Aironet 350 Series portfolio that includes access points, bridges and client adapters. The Cisco Aironet 350 Series is currently shipping with the IEEE 802.1x security standard that is integrated with Cisco's new wireless key management system for enterprises. This comprehensive wireless security system, now also supported in Toshiba's Tecra and Portigi notebook PCs, enables enterprise-scale deployment of secure wireless LANs by defining ways for single user identification, centralized authentication, and dynamic key management. Through Cisco's security implementation, Toshiba's enterprise customers can further enhance their wireless LAN security by enabling per-session, per-user keys as well as periodic re-authentication.

"Toshiba's decision to integrate our Cisco Aironet 350 Series technology into its premier line of Tecra and Portigi portable notebooks is a significant milestone in meeting enterprise users' needs for consistent, reliable and secure mobile networking connections," said Bill Rossi, vice president and general manager of Cisco's Wireless Networking Business Unit. "The delivery of 'enterprise-ready' notebooks that combine mobility with industry-leading performance, security, and manageability sets a new standard in integrated wireless technology that our customers have come to expect from us."

"Through this alliance with Cisco, Toshiba continues to lead the market by offering the Tecra 9000 and Portigi 4000 Series with simple, 'instant' wireless LAN capabilities," said Steve Andler, vice president of marketing, Toshiba CSG. "With our newest corporate notebooks, highly mobile professionals can exchange files in a conference room or check email on the road without wires, securely and in a matter of seconds."

The Toshiba Tecra 9000 Series and Portigi 4000 Series notebook PCs offer corporate customers superior wireless connectivity, a Secure Digital Media slot and common components. The Cisco and Toshiba Wi-Fi solution is based on the following Cisco Aironet 350 Series features that meet all enterprise requirements:

  • Industry-leading data rates of up to 11Mbps; based on direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) technology operating in the 2.4GHz ISM band; up to 100mW transmit power
  • IEEE 802.11b compliant and Wi-Fi certified, ensuring interoperability with other compliant wireless LAN products
  • Supports IEEE 802.1x-based Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) services that provide single-user, single-session encryption keys integrated with the network logon and dynamic re-authentication
  • Support for all popular operating systems used in an enterprise, including Microsoft Windows XP operating system
  • World mode for international mobility across regulatory domains

Toshiba will market the notebook PCs, including the embedded Cisco Aironet 350 Series Mini-PCI. Toshiba also will provide co-development, solution validation and single vendor accountability for design, global consulting, integration, installation and support services, including the Cisco client technology components.