NEC, Tropos forge wireless mobile data alliance

NEC Solutions America Inc. has entered into a partnership with Tropos Networks Inc. to provide wireless mobile data systems to police, fire and emergency medical personnel, the company announced today.

Under the terms of the partnership, NEC Solutions America of Rancho Cordova, Calif., will integrate its Sentrus computer-aided dispatch and records management system technologies with Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Tropos Networks' MetroMesh Wi-Fi mesh networking system.

The combined solution is designed to provide continuous connections for first responders regardless of their locations.

As part of its Sentrus Public Safety System, NEC offers a series of information management modules that address mission-critical public safety requirements. Those modules, combined with Sentrus ruggedized, mobile computers and NEC servers, offer a comprehensive law enforcement system to capture, report and analyze the information that agencies need to better serve their communities.

Using the patented Predictive Wireless Routing Protocol, the Tropos MeshNetworks Wi-Fi system forms a wireless mesh network, routing traffic along the highest throughput path to a wired gateway by using a combination of agency-owned fiber and fixed point-to-point wireless technology for the backhaul connections.

Using these connections, first responders can access the most current information from computer-aided dispatch and records management system technologies, as well as complete reporting from the field.

NEC Solutions offers integrated solutions, while Tropos Networks offers metro-scale Wi-Fi mesh network systems.