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SINGAPORE, January 24, 2006 – Linksys announced two new Power over Ethernet (PoE) Wireless-G access points for small business environments. The new Wireless-G Access Point with PoE (WAP54GP) and the Wireless-G Exterior Access Point with PoE (WAP54GPE) enable high-speed, highly secure wireless access to both indoors and out.

When installing Access Points in difficult or hard-to-reach locations, running a new electrical outlet can be time consuming and very expensive. The industry-standard 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) capability enables easy and low-cost installation where power outlets are not readily available such as in ceilings, warehouses, walls or outside patios. The access points are powered via the Ethernet cable which is connected to a PoE-enabled router or switch. The new Wireless-G Access Points let wireless notebook and desktop PCs connect with other Wireless-G or B clients and wired Ethernet networks for sharing files, resources, and high-speed broadband Internet connections.

The access points can also be used as a bridge, a kind of “cable-less cable” to connect remote areas together, forming a single network with shared resources. For businesses with both confidential and public access, the Access Points can be configured with multiple SSIDs and VLAN settings, keeping network traffic separated. The access points are ideal for small businesses where there are multiple work areas separated by a short distance, or where new wiring would be difficult to install.

“Many of our VARs and small business customers were asking for wireless solutions that had PoE capabilities so they could extend their wireless access to more areas throughout their business,” said Sanjeev Gupta, Linksys Regional Sales Manager for Asia. “These access points provide our customers with the capabilities they need to help make their businesses more productive. Linksys currently has over 70 wireless products in its portfolio and these are the first to provide POE capabilities.”

Both the indoor and outdoor access points support Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and the industrial-strength wireless security of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) which uses advanced encryption to protect wireless transmissions. WPA2 support will be available via a firmware download on the Linksys website by the end of Q1. MAC Address Filtering provides additional security by allowing only MAC addresses identified by the administrator to access the wireless network.

The Wireless-G Exterior Access Point is built for outdoor environments where wireless is needed for employees or customers. The weather-proof housing protects the access point from the elements and includes mounting hardware to attach to outside buildings with ease.