Perle Systems Case Study

Connected to your mobile
Wireless Information Network Ltd.

“A new generation of mobile users are becoming so emotionally attached to their phones, that they cannot live without them” BBC News June 2004.

Today’s society demands that information can reach us at all times through our mobile telephones. From conversations and voice mails to text messages and images, the mobile phone has become a lifeline for many.

But have you ever wondered how millions of messages are co-ordinated so that only the right ones reach you? Why aren’t they garbled or lost in cyberspace? Thanks to companies like Wireless Information Network Limited, technology keeps information flowing smoothly.

Wireless Information Network Ltd
WIN is an industry leading mobile data service provider, which enables businesses to communicate with their customers and employees through SMS, MMS, WAP, i-Mode, GPRS or paging. By maintaining carrier-grade connectivity to all operators, WIN allows clients to operate services that are available to everyone, regardless of their network provider.

WIN operates a four-tiered solutions model: connectivity services to mobile network operators, a range of messaging applications, managed content and mobile internet services and bespoke service development.

Today, WIN has developed a reputation as the fastest and most reliable developer of wireless applications in the Industry!

Application Background
Wireless Information Network provides the interface for an “always on” live presence within the mobile phone network.

For example, a managing director needs to be immediately alerted by text message to an intruder alarm at the office. To do this Wireless Information network hosts large banks of GSM modems (basically a mobile phone without the keypad and battery) to instantly send these urgent messages.

Rising demand from customers for sophisticated messaging applications resulted in an increasing number of GSM modems being installed. The “always on” service requires that these modems efficiently operate and never go down for even one moment. The large number of GSM modems became difficult to manage effectively and, as a result, Wireless Information Network looked for a new solution.

“WIN processes over 40 million text messages per month on a 24/7 basis.,” says Andy Griffiths, IT Support Manager. “With that kind of throughput, downtime is not an option.”

The Solution
The GSM modems were managed by connecting them to a personal computer. In order to minimise the number of PCs needed for the task, Wireless Information Network successfully trialed Perle’s JetStream Terminal Server. By using the JetStream, a single PC can access, monitor and manage to up to 48 GSM modems. Not only can the modems be monitored but the through traffic can be controlled and programmed. The JetStream acts as a multiplexer to poll and operate the modems thus keep them up and running 24x7, so they can do their job.

Why Perle?
Wireless Information Network was already a Perle customer and Serial COM port communication proved essential for the task of managing the modem banks. High reliability, no maintenance, and sophisticated management features ensured that the JetStream was included in a cutting edge technology solution.