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Aruba Launches Collaborative Program for Partners

10/29/2008

Aruba Networks has launched Aruba Labs, a new three-pronged research program designed in part to provide development partners with resources for researching and prototyping WiFi applications.

The first part of the new initiative is something called the "Developers Program," which provides open-source SDKs and APIs designed " to help partners to rapidly prototype new wireless applications. These Windows and Linux-based tools enable developers to add new functionality to Wi-Fi networks," according to Aruba. The Developers Program is open to all qualified organizations.

The second part of the new initiative is Aruba's Advanced Directed Research Program, an invitation-only program that will allow partners to collaborate with Aruba on "sponsored research, joint development work, and grant-funded programs."

"Aruba Labs follows the open source community model with regard to investigating the boundaries of Wi-Fi technology," said Keerti Melkote, Aruba's co-founder and CTO. "The Labs' toolkits enable student, faculty, and corporate researchers to create and test new Wi-Fi applications using an off-the-shelf platform. For example, some partners are experimenting with Wi-Fi based emergency digital signage for weather notification, shelter-in-place instructions, and lost persons warnings. Others are exploring the integration of Wi-Fi sensors and controls for energy monitoring, security, and building automation. By making available ready-to-use toolkits and a forum for discussing findings, Aruba Labs is helping to accelerate the pace of research on wireless networks and applications."

As part of the initiative, Aruba has also launched the Green Island Project, which is aimed at sponsoring research on the "economic, environmental, and social ramifications of the all-wireless workplace." This program is open to all K-12 and higher education Aruba customers and to select "commercial institutions."