Appear Networks: indoor platform for the Stockholm Metro

Appear Networks: indoor platform for the Stockholm Metro. Stockholm Metro, Part II: A joint solution that helps make frontline employees more productive, reduces the costs of operating handheld devices and enhances customer satisfaction. It also helps increase employee productivity while minimizing the headache of data synchronization, application provisioning, and tracking of wireless devices. Together, the Cisco Unified Wireless Network and the Appear IQ Wireless Platform deliver context-aware intelligence that proactively provides mobile workers with the relevant tools and mission- critical information that they need in order to work faster and more effectively.

Cisco Systems announced a collaboration with software provider Appear Networks to deliver an Integrated Location Services Solution for the Stockholm metro, delivering personalised, real-time information to users in underground stations, anywhere across the Wi-Fi network. Based on contextual information such as time of day, job role and current physical location, the solution is able to access the right information which is interpreted and pushed out in real time to the right users and to the right location.

This Integrated Location Services Solution is also able to determine the location of a handheld mobile device to within a few meters, leading to a better-informed and more effective workforce. Appear Networks has integrated the Cisco Wireless Location Appliance of the Cisco Unified Wireless Network with its own wireless communication platform, Appear IQ, to create an Integrated Location Services Solution that understands who the end-user is, where they are and what device they are using at any given time.

In addition to the deployment at the Stockholm metro, a new field trial is currently underway with Stockholm's Kista Galleria, one of the most successful shopping malls in Northern Europe. The full solution is based on the Cisco Unified Wireless Network infrastructure of Cisco Aironet lightweight access points, wireless LAN controllers, Wireless Control System (WCS) and the 2700 Series Wireless Location Appliance.

Since implementing this platform in December 2005, Stockholm metro, operated by Connex, has been able to act on real-time data supplied by the network. This has resulted in access to up to date travel news, an improvement in customer service through better information as well as better-connected employees. In addition to improving station safety, the new solution accelerates access to service disruption updates for staff working on train platforms.

Connex has also noted a measurable increase in personnel efficiency since deployment, due to improvements in the way maintenance issues are communicated to engineering staff in the field. The security employees are notified via their handheld device if there is a security alert in a nearby area. The employee can then access the relevant video surveillance stream to confirm the situation.

Then, when they call their closest colleague, the Appear IQ platform takes into account the user's location to intelligently route the Wi-Fi call. The Appear IQ Wireless Platform is designed to meet the needs of mobile users, whether consumers or frontline workers and facilitate their successful use of technology.

The Cisco Unified Wireless Network supports highly secure wireless LANs that not only deliver data, but also mobility services such as voice over WLAN (VoWLAN) and location based solutions including asset tracking and context aware application provisioning.

The Integrated Location Services Solution from Cisco and Appear helps organizations to deploy a more successful and efficient mobile workforce. Appear Networks is a provider of wireless communication platforms that enable successful enterprise mobility solutions. The Appear IQ suite of products transforms standard wireless data networks into multimedia channels for the proactive delivery of personalized, real-time information, mission-critical video and VoIP communication to mobile workers.

Appear IQ is used by leaders in the transportation, telecommunication and public.

Contact: 

Mia Falgard
Appear Networks,
Kista, Sweden
Tel.: +46 8 545 91 370
Mia.falgard@appearnetworks.com
www.appearnetworks.com