Connect One’s New Secure Serial-to-WiFi Module Protects M2M Applications from Network Attacks

April 2, 2007 - PRLog -- Embedded Systems Conference, Booth 306, San Jose, CA — April 2, 2007 — Connect One™, the Device Networking Authority™, today announced the release of Socket iWiFi, a secure serial-to-WiFi embedded device server that quickly and easily connects devices running machine-to-machine (M2M) applications to 802.11b/g wireless LANs and protects them from network attacks. Socket iWiFi uses Connect One’s iChipSec CO711AG Internet Protocol (IP) communication controller chip—which includes the latest encryption, security and IP protocols—to act as a firewall and WiFi controller for the onboard Marvell 88W8385 WiFi chipset. Socket iWiFi enables devices that use communication modules in the industry-standard SocketModem form factor to be integrated into a wireless LAN network with a minimum amount of programming.

Although there are many off-the-shelf, third-party software libraries on the market for adding WiFi connectivity to Windows or Linux PC-based applications, no easy solutions exist to quickly WiFi-enable non-PC devices that use other embedded real time operating systems. Socket iWiFi overcomes time and complexity barriers by unbundling the wireless and security drivers from the application. Designers do not need major reprogramming of the application in order to use Connect One’s serial-to-WiFi device server, since Connect One’s iChipSec and high-level AT+i API offload the WiFi drivers, WPA supplicant, security and networking protocols, and communication tasks from the host application. iChipSec also acts as a firewall-in-a-chip, protecting the application from networks attacks.

“Socket iWiFi enabled us to quickly design WiFi transmission of video surveillance images into our new building controller,” stated Ravi Rao, Chief Technology Officer at Asian Electronics Ltd. (AEL), a manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting solutions based in Mumbai, India. “Connect One has made the implementation of WiFi and security protocols fast and easy by using the same API that we have in our other iChip-enabled products and by giving us a simple RS-232-to-WiFi connection. All we have to do is to program calls from the main processor to the iChipSec coprocessor, which controls the WiFi chipset, and set the network configuration parameters in iChipSec.”

“AEL has an impressive track record of designing M2M applications that use the latest technology, enabling them to be first in their markets,” says Alan Singer, Connect One vice president of sales and marketing. “By using Socket iWiFi, AEL was able to quickly develop a new building controller that includes secure wireless video monitoring.”

By offloading connectivity, cryptography and security from the application processor, Socket iWiFi frees up host processing time and simplifies the wireless design process. As a coprocessor with remotely updateable firmware, new security or connectivity protocols do not require application redesign, increased memory or faster processor speed to meet future wireless demands. With Socket iWiFi, developers can take advantage of 10 simultaneous TCP/UDP sockets; two listening sockets; SMTP, MIME, POP3, FTP, Telnet, and HTTP clients; a Web server with a Web site for the application and one for configuring iChipSec; and serial-to-IP bridging. Socket iWiFi supports, 64-/128-bit WEP encryption; the SSL3/TLS1 protocol for a secure client socket session and a secure FTP session; WPA1; and it will support WPA2 during Q3. The module operates at 3.3 volts, operates over an extended temperature range of  -20° to 70° C (-4° to 158° F) and is RoHS-compliant.

Socket iWiFi will be demonstrated between April 3-5 at Connect One’s booth 306 at the Embedded Systems Conference in the McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA.

Pricing and Availability
Socket iWiFi is available now for $95.00 in quantities of 100-999 units. The II-EVB-361MS evaluation board provides an easy environment for testing Socket iWiFi and costs $275.00. For large volume customers, a reference design is available for iChipSec and the Marvell chipset. For more information, please visit www.connectone.com.

About Connect One
Established in 1996, Connect One Ltd. is widely regarded as the device networking authority, with many innovative firsts to its credit. The company manufactures semiconductors and device servers that facilitate reliable and robust Internet Protocol-based communication for everyday devices. Connect One is privately owned, with offices in San Jose, CA, Hong Kong, and Kfar Saba, Israel.  

For further information, please visit our Web site at www.connectone.com or send an e-mail to info@connectone.com. Connect One, The Device Networking Authority, iChip, iChipSec, Internet Controller, AT+i, SerialNET, and Socket iWiFi are trademarks of Connect One Ltd. All other trademarks are property of their holder.

###

Contact:
Janice Hughes
Media Relations
Tel: 705-751-9740
janice@hughescom.net

Website: www.connectone.com