280 Insider Newsletter March 2004. AIPMM, FireTide, Product Marketing Handbook for Software, QuickSurveys

This week FireTide is highlighted in the 280 Insider Newsletter

One of the hot companies we've been watching is Firetide. Funded by Menlo Ventures, HMS Ventures, and Hawaiian Electric Industries, FireTide is a wireless networking company. They have just shipped their first product and have brought on a talented new CEO by the name of Bo Larsson. Additionally they also just won the Best of Show at the Wi Fi planet show. At first glance FireTide appears to be yet another mesh networking company. But when you look a little deeper you realize that they provide a very unique and compelling solution. The HotPoint Wireless Mesh Router, their first product, completely eliminates the need to pull Ethernet cables. Anyone who is familiar with setting up networks knows that when you set up a network one of the biggest hassles is getting Ethernet ports to where you need them. Even if you are setting up a Wi Fi network, you still need to have an Ethernet port to plug in your access point. Thus if you want to network a building larger than a few hundred feet (802.11b only supports about 300 feet), you have to pull wire, which makes it expensive and time-consuming. FireTide HotPoint routers provide a simple and reliable alternative to standard LAN cabling, forming automatic, self-healing networks. For situations where a network must be set up rapidly (emergency hospitals, army command and control centers, trade shows) or where it is impractical or too costly to pull wire, FireTide has a very compelling solution.