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Ekahau Launches Next Generation Wi-Fi RTLS Staff Badge and Pager
New B4 Badge Provides Enterprise Users with Simple to Use Wi-Fi Location Tracking Coupled with Staff Safety and Communications Features
COPENHAGEN, May 8, 2012/PRNewswire/ --
?
Ekahau Inc., the worldwide leader in high performance Wi-Fi-based Real Time Location
Systems [http://www.ekahau.com/products/real-time-location-system/overview.html ] (RTLS),
today announced the launch of its newest Wi-Fi staff badge - the Ekahau B4 Staff Badge and
Pager [http://www.ekahau.com/products/real-time-location-system/wi-fi-tags.html ]. The B4
features an OLED text display and multiple buttons that allow users to receive text
messages over Wi-Fi and to acknowledge receipt or to initiate calls and alarms. A unique
feature of the B4 badge is a built-in alarm switch for staff duress events.
The B4 badge builds on Ekahau's highly successful T301BD staff badge which is being
phased out of production. The B4 incorporates the latest SOC (system on a chip) Wi-Fi
802.11g radio, CPU and memory along with several new changes in the physical design that
enhance the ruggedness and use of the badges. The B4 can be tracked and located by Ekahau
RTLS over any brand or generation of Wi-Fi network. The system is typically able to
achieve room level accuracy using Wi-Fi as the location method. For areas with poor Wi-Fi
coverage or where sub-room location is required, the B4 incorporates an IR sensor that
works with the Ekahau RTLS system and the Ekahau LB1 Location Beacons to ensure location
accuracy down to within a few feet.
The three call buttons and alarm switch can be programmed to address different calls
initiated by the user. For example, a button press can signify a call for assistance in
moving a patient, whereas the alarm switch can be used to summon nearby co-workers to help
with a life-threatening situation. Due to the system's unique two-way communication
capability, staff members can receive calls for help or other requests directly on the LED
display on the badges they are wearing. An audible tone and flashing LEDs alert that there
is a new message.
"The new design of the B4 builds on customer feedback we have received over the years
as a leading supplier personnel, patient and visitor tracking
[http://www.ekahau.com/solutions/healthcare.html ] solutions" said Tuomo Rutanen Senior
Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Ekahau Inc. "Ekahau has hundreds
of sites where our RTLS system is deployed with our staff badges that are saving lives,
improving work-flow and improving operations. We combine precision location, alarming and
service request features and a full array of audible, visual and text communications
capabilities on the badge itself. These capabilities offer our customers more options to
leverage the Ekahau RTLS system to solve both mission critical and every-day problems."
The Ekahau B4 has a rechargeable battery that allows organizations to run the badges
with rapid blink rates and real-time text messaging. Battery life is continuously
monitored with multi-color LEDs and the user is alerted if the battery level falls below a
specific threshold. The B4 badges can be recharged using a simple AC charger, a USB cable
or with a table-top or wall-mount rack charger that charges ten badges simultaneously.
Recharge time is approximately 90 minutes and the badges can be configured to last from a
few days to several weeks on a single charge.
The B4 starts shipping to customers at the end of May and is available through Ekahau
and its resellers world-wide.
About Ekahau Inc.
Ekahau Inc. is the industry leader in providing Wi-Fi-based RTLS solutions. Ekahau's
customers, including several Fortune 500 companies worldwide, are realizing the benefits
of Wi-Fi based location services and innovative Wi-Fi network planning and optimization
tools. Ekahau's solutions are being used in more than 300 hospitals around the world, as
well as by manufacturing, retail and industrial companies, government agencies and the
military. Ekahau partners include wireless software developers, leading system integrators
and international OEM partners, who develop and market wireless enterprise applications.
Ekahau is a U.S.-based corporation, with headquarters in Reston, VA, and other offices in
Saratoga, CA; Helsinki, Finland; Tokyo; and Hong Kong. For more information about Ekahau,
please visit http://www.ekahau.com.
Source: Ekahau
Contact: Cindi Loveall, Ph: +1-703-860-2850 X1008, Cell: +1-703-258-5662, cindi.loveall(at)ekahau.com.
Ekahau Launches Next Generation Wi-Fi RTLS Staff Badge and Pager
New B4 Badge Provides Enterprise Users with Simple to Use Wi-Fi Location Tracking Coupled with Staff Safety and Communications Features
COPENHAGEN, May 8, 2012/PRNewswire/ --
?
Ekahau Inc., the worldwide leader in high performance Wi-Fi-based Real Time Location
Systems [http://www.ekahau.com/products/real-time-location-system/overview.html ] (RTLS),
today announced the launch of its newest Wi-Fi staff badge - the Ekahau B4 Staff Badge and
Pager [http://www.ekahau.com/products/real-time-location-system/wi-fi-tags.html ]. The B4
features an OLED text display and multiple buttons that allow users to receive text
messages over Wi-Fi and to acknowledge receipt or to initiate calls and alarms. A unique
feature of the B4 badge is a built-in alarm switch for staff duress events.
The B4 badge builds on Ekahau's highly successful T301BD staff badge which is being
phased out of production. The B4 incorporates the latest SOC (system on a chip) Wi-Fi
802.11g radio, CPU and memory along with several new changes in the physical design that
enhance the ruggedness and use of the badges. The B4 can be tracked and located by Ekahau
RTLS over any brand or generation of Wi-Fi network. The system is typically able to
achieve room level accuracy using Wi-Fi as the location method. For areas with poor Wi-Fi
coverage or where sub-room location is required, the B4 incorporates an IR sensor that
works with the Ekahau RTLS system and the Ekahau LB1 Location Beacons to ensure location
accuracy down to within a few feet.
The three call buttons and alarm switch can be programmed to address different calls
initiated by the user. For example, a button press can signify a call for assistance in
moving a patient, whereas the alarm switch can be used to summon nearby co-workers to help
with a life-threatening situation. Due to the system's unique two-way communication
capability, staff members can receive calls for help or other requests directly on the LED
display on the badges they are wearing. An audible tone and flashing LEDs alert that there
is a new message.
"The new design of the B4 builds on customer feedback we have received over the years
as a leading supplier personnel, patient and visitor tracking
[http://www.ekahau.com/solutions/healthcare.html ] solutions" said Tuomo Rutanen Senior
Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at Ekahau Inc. "Ekahau has hundreds
of sites where our RTLS system is deployed with our staff badges that are saving lives,
improving work-flow and improving operations. We combine precision location, alarming and
service request features and a full array of audible, visual and text communications
capabilities on the badge itself. These capabilities offer our customers more options to
leverage the Ekahau RTLS system to solve both mission critical and every-day problems."
The Ekahau B4 has a rechargeable battery that allows organizations to run the badges
with rapid blink rates and real-time text messaging. Battery life is continuously
monitored with multi-color LEDs and the user is alerted if the battery level falls below a
specific threshold. The B4 badges can be recharged using a simple AC charger, a USB cable
or with a table-top or wall-mount rack charger that charges ten badges simultaneously.
Recharge time is approximately 90 minutes and the badges can be configured to last from a
few days to several weeks on a single charge.
The B4 starts shipping to customers at the end of May and is available through Ekahau
and its resellers world-wide.
About Ekahau Inc.
Ekahau Inc. is the industry leader in providing Wi-Fi-based RTLS solutions. Ekahau's
customers, including several Fortune 500 companies worldwide, are realizing the benefits
of Wi-Fi based location services and innovative Wi-Fi network planning and optimization
tools. Ekahau's solutions are being used in more than 300 hospitals around the world, as
well as by manufacturing, retail and industrial companies, government agencies and the
military. Ekahau partners include wireless software developers, leading system integrators
and international OEM partners, who develop and market wireless enterprise applications.
Ekahau is a U.S.-based corporation, with headquarters in Reston, VA, and other offices in
Saratoga, CA; Helsinki, Finland; Tokyo; and Hong Kong. For more information about Ekahau,
please visit http://www.ekahau.com.
Source: Ekahau
Contact: Cindi Loveall, Ph: +1-703-860-2850 X1008, Cell: +1-703-258-5662, cindi.loveall(at)ekahau.com.