US : NRF Convention and Expo -- WatchGuard Technologies launched a new modular device, the WatchGuard 3G Extend, that complements and extends the capabilities of its award-winning family of Unified Threat Management (UTM) network security appliances.

The WatchGuard 3G Extend ( inset ) is designed for businesses that need high-speed wide area (WAN) connectivity where hard-wired broadband is too expensive or simply unavailable. Examples of this include remote and temporary office sites, stand-alone retail outlets, kiosks, ATMs and mobile assets, such as police vehicles, trains and long-haul trucks. With it, businesses gain highly secure, high-speed Internet access, which can be used for primary network connectivity, WAN failover or 3G wireless data backhaul.

"No other security offering provides the depth of 3G network support than the WatchGuard 3G Extend," said Eric Aarrestad, vice president of marketing at WatchGuard Technologies. "The WatchGuard 3G Extend embodies our vision of extensible security. With it, customers gain the freedom to choose their service provider and the flexibility to deploy high security to any location, anywhere there is cellular data service."

WatchGuard 3G Extend -- Enabling High Security, Cellular Connectivity

The WatchGuard 3G Extend acts as a 3G wireless bridge to bring Internet connectivity to WatchGuard UTM network security appliances. Because it supports more than 50 cellular radio modems from over 2,000 ISPs, customers around the world can choose among a vast array of mobile service provider options to best meet their location, service requirements and budget needs.

Because the WatchGuard 3G Extend provides both primary and failover 3G connectivity to any WatchGuard appliance, businesses gain a highly secure and faster WAN failover alternative than POTS. Additionally, because of its modular design there are no single points of failure, unlike other UTM appliances that integrate a limited venue of cellular wireless options for backhaul and connectivity.

The modular design of the WatchGuard 3G Extend also gives businesses greater flexibility and scalability in deployment schemes. For example, the device can be easily moved or transferred among other WatchGuard appliances, thus giving businesses a superior total cost of ownership model and investment protection for future upgrade paths.

Designed for a global audience and an infinite number of deployment scenarios, the WatchGuard 3G Extend supports most major CDMA, EDGE, EVDO, GPRS/UMTS and HSDPA cellular high-speed radio cards. Setting up and managing the WatchGuard 3G Extend is fast and easy, and requires no additional software or drivers for seamless connectivity with WatchGuard appliances.

Pricing and Availability

The WatchGuard 3G Extend is available now for U.S. $280.00 from authorized resellers around the world