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This article focuses on the continuous growth of Secure Sockets Layer virtual private networks (SSL VPN) in the U.S. industry as of February 2005. Traditionally, providing road warriors and business partners with access to back-end servers and resources has meant deploying an Internet protocol security (IPSec) VPN. For site-to-site communication, IPSec remains the only game in town, but for client-to-enterprise links, it is falling out of favor precipitously. The administrative overhead associated with deploying IPSec client software has become overwhelming given the ever increasing number of clients to support. There is also the potential that IPSec tunneling will allow an untrusted device to punch a hole through the firewall--and directly into the heart of the network. These kinds of basic problems with IPSec are why SSL VPNs are showing up on more and more IT radar screens. With an SSL VPN, there is no client software to install, let alone maintain. Not only does this cut down on IT labor, but it also means remote users aren't limited to specified locations. Public Internet kiosks, partner sites, a borrowed laptop--they all work. More importantly, with an SSL VPN there is no open tunnel to the enterprise. SSL VPNs enforce security policies on each connection, allowing access only to specific resources based on user, location, and/or device. INSETS: Locking Down the End Point;Standardizing Trust at the Edge.

This article focuses on the efforts of Asian companies to promote adoption of the next-generation Internet Protocol (IP) called IPv6. The IPv4, limits the Internet to approximately 4 billion unique addresses. Because U.S. companies control the majority of those addresses, there has been no hurry to deploy IPv6 in the U.S. By contrast, however, Asian companies, backed by government investments and mandates, have been aggressively rolling out IPv6. But more than balancing supply and demand, Asian governments and companies also see IPv6 as a business opportunity, an opportunity to innovate and leapfrog the rest of the world. By making it easier to assign Internet addresses to devices and services, IPv6 could accelerate adoption of new applications such as third generation mobile services, gaming, smart consumer appliances, smart sensors, home automation and voice over IP. That potential for innovation may prove to be the biggest driver for IPv6 adoption in the U.S., as Asian IPv6-enabled products make their way westward. The biggest advantage of IPv6 global addressing will be its capability of facilitating applications that require fast, plug-and-play connections among peer devices on the edge of the network. INSETS: Where Are We Now?;VoIp and IPv6: A Perfect Pair.

Evaluates the Longitude 1.0 systems management solution from Heroix Corp. in the U.S. List of remote management protocols used by Longitude; Advantages and disadvantages of Longitude; Cost of Longitude.

Reports on the interests of vendors to the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) as a way to unify disparate communication systems in the U.S. Plans of Siemens Enterprise Networks division to take the wraps off OpenScape, an SIP-based software application; Decision of International Business Machine to release SIP-based communication platform; Advantage of SIP; Information on interactive media.

Provides information on the Wi-Fi Protected Access security standard of the Wi-Fi Alliance in the U.S. Protocol used by the standard as a replacement for the Wired Equivalent Privacy; Features; Security methods on which vendors are focusing.

Focuses on the support for the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) technology which will enable wireless communication devices to access the Internet. Plans of introducing Version 1.2 of the WAP technology in early 2000; Partnership between Microsoft and Ericsson to evolve WAP more in the Extensible Markup Language direction.

Forecasts the dominance of internet protocol (IP) in the telecommunications industry in the United States in 1999. Easier use of IP through the simplification of data storage system standards; Role of the Year 2000 computer crashes in promoting the trend; Benefits of having a single protocol for businesses.

Examines the growing market share of Competitive Local Exchange Carriers and other service providers specializing in Internet protocol in the United States. Operations by Cincom Systems, Qwest Communications, Concentric Networks, American Digital Networks, Epoch Networks and Tele-Communications; Impact of the Internet protocol providers on traditional telecommunication carriers. INSET: IPV6--it's coming but is it better?, by Stephen Lawson..

This article focuses on the effort of WiMax Forum to expand its Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) capabilities in the U.S. WiMax is not long-distance Wi-Fi. In fact, WiMax networks are not interoperable with Wi-Fi networks. For the most part, WiMax will use the licensed spectrum, which means service providers will have to pay the U.S. Federal Communications Commission for bandwidth. WiMax can also work in the unlicensed spectrum above 5 Gigahertz, but those frequencies require line of sight and work only at shorter distances, according to Ron Resnick, president and chairman of the WiMax Forum. Using those bands would effectively negate the long-distance value of WiMax. But using licensed spectrum does give operators the right to use greater output power. Thus, the first WiMax specification is for 75 Megabit per second at distances as far as 30 miles, although actual data throughput for individual users will vary depending on distance. Given that range, Resnick says that metropolitan zones based on WiMax will eventually compete with current Wi-Fi locations. Because the available spectrum for WiMax is so broad, the WiMax Forum is in the process of creating so-called profiles that address subsets of the full WiMax functionality, targeted at specific markets.

Comments on the move of SBC Communications, a major U.S. telecommunication company, to enter into the Wi-Fi market. Contention that the move of SBC Communications is bound to fail; Explanation on why Wi-Fi market has no potential for success; Place where Wi-Fi connectivity is suitable; Technical problem of Wi-Fi technology; Discussion on the Wi-Fi market in the U.S.

Comments on the challenge of delivering wireless fidelity for public access in the U.S. by the company Cometa Networks. Background on the company; Views of the company's chief executive officer Larry Brilliant on the possible success of the company with wireless fidelity.

Focuses on the completion of the final iSCSI standard draft by the Storage Network Industry Association as of 2002 in the U.S. Topics debated on during the development of the iSCSI draft; Reasons companies should make use of the iSCSI protocol.

Comments on the diminishing popularity of wireless application protocol (WAP) technology in the United States. Information on the WAP; Public opinion on WAP; Potential reasons which prompted companies to shift away from WAP.

Focuses on the efforts of three telecommunication companies in the United States to offer ways for corporations to ease into Internet Protocol (IP) applications. Features of the integrated business service unveiled by AT&T; Benefits of the Business Class IP Service being offered by WorldCom; Information on the Enterprise Network Services of Sprint.

Reports on VocalTec Inc.'s unveiling of its plan for widespread deployment of an Internet Protocol (IP)-based alternative to the public switched telephone networks in the United States. VocalTech's IP telephony; Plans of the company in using the Ensemble Architecture for its 1998 products.