Airespace, Inc., formerly Black Storm Networks, was a networking systems company founded in 2001, manufacturing wireless access points and controllers of the former. The company developed the AP-Controller model for fast deployment and the Lightweight Access Point Protocol, the precursor to the CAPWAP protocol.[1][2][3]
Corporate history
Airespace was founded in 2001 by Pat Calhoun,[4] Bob Friday,[5] Bob O'Hara,[6] and Ajay Mishra.[7] The company was venture backed by Storm Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Fidelity Investments, and Battery Ventures.[8] In 2003, it entered into an agreement to provide OEM equipment to NEC.[9] In 2004 it signed an agreement with Alcatel and Nortel to provide equipment to the two companies on an OEM basis.[10][11]
Airespace was first to market with integrated location tracking.[12] Within a year and a half, the company grew rapidly into the market leader of enterprise Wi-Fi.[13]
Cisco Systems acquired Airespace in 2005 for $450 million;[14] this was one of 13 acquisitions Cisco made that year and the largest up to that point.[15] Airespace products were merged into Cisco Aironet product line.[16]
External links
References
- Carmen Nobel. Support for IETF Protocol in Question eWeek, Ziff-Davis, January 13, 2006^
- Bill Ferguson. CompTIA Network+ Review Guide: Exam N10-006 Wiley, 2015^
- David D. Coleman. CWSP Certified Wireless Security Professional Official Study Guide: Exam PW0-204 Wiley, 2011^
- Kevin Tampone. Cisco executive offers start-up advice for tech firms Central New York Business Journal, March 3, 2006^
- Mathias Craig. Mist CTO Bob Friday: 'Beacons are reaching critical mass' Network World, IDG Publications, March 27, 2017^
- Art Wittmann. CISCO vs. MERU: The Vendors Speak Network Computing, CMP Media, December 7, 2006^
- R. Subramanyam. More tech start-ups by Indians on Cisco's radar The Economic Times, October 17, 2005^
- Staff writer. Wireless firms in San Jose, Calif., area receive added funding rounds San Jose Mercury News, Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, August 3, 2004^
- Carmen Nobel. Airespace Reins in Wireless Networks eWeek, Ziff-Davis, April 7, 2003^
- John Cox. Alcatel debuts wireless gear Network World, IDG Publications, March 1, 2004^
- John Cox. The air is starting to come out of the wireless LAN market Network World, IDG Publications, October 18, 2004^
- Carmen Nobel. Airespace Sets WLan Tools for Remote Sites eWeek, Ziff-Davis, December 8, 2003^
- Bert Hill. ... and he's still playing to win The Ottawa Citizen, April 27, 2005^
- Phil Hochmuth. Cisco nets Airespace for $450 million Network World, January 12, 2005, retrieved June 5, 2020^
- Mark Evans. How Cisco maintains its spot at the top National Post, May 13, 2005^
- Toby Velte. Cisco: A Beginner's Guide McGraw-Hill, 2006^