In disaster recovery efforts the importance of the ability to communicate information quickly and securely cannot be understated. First responders communicate using two-way radios and cell phones in the field. In a number of major incidents, most notably the World Trade Center attacks, the telecommunications infrastructure becomes overloaded with traffic and ultimately inaccessible leaving first responders to communicate with hand-written notes and messengers. Recognizing the costs of this communications technology gap, the Department of Homeland Security has identified inadequate and unreliable wireless communications as a critical issue in emergency response and has placed communications technologies high in the agenda of emergency preparedness efforts.

With Rajant's BreadCrumb devices the ability to access, receive and transmit data securely in real-time becomes a reality for first responders in disaster relief situations to military personnel in combat operations. By eliminating the gap in communications BreadCrumb's enable the military and emergency response workers to operate more efficiently and effectively -- saving money, time and lives. Recently, BreadCrumb systems were used to enable voice, data and video communications in the Tsunami relief effort in Thailand. Despite the absence of an existing telecommunications infrastructure, the BreadCrumbs were set up and operational within fifteen minutes. The BreadCrumb mesh network enabled relief workers to make calls across to globe to coordinate survivor location efforts; provided the internet connection to send DNA information to identify victims; and allowed refugees to make calls to family and friends to notify them of their safety.

BreadCrumbs are battery powered, lunchbox-sized, ruggedized broadband devices that can be deployed quickly and easily to establish a wireless mesh network. Breadcrumbs are compatible with any wireless device meeting 802.3 (ethernet) and 802.11b (Wi-Fi) standards. Fortress Technologies will provide the embedded FIPS 140-2 certified, Layer 2 encryption to ensure that all information transmitted across the ad hoc networks -- voice, video and data are secure.

"The combination of these technologies gives our military, especially our Special Operations Forces, a turn-key, high-speed alternative to low throughput tactical radios," said Steve Powell, integrated information solutions division manager of AMTI, a value-added reseller. "From the operator's perspective, the ease of implementation and state-of-the-art encryption make this a winning combination."

"This is an exciting, cutting edge solution for the deployment of portable wireless networks to support first responders and the military," said Shawn Hughes, CEO of Fortress Technologies. "The combination of Fortress' market-proven security solution and Rajant's innovative and high-performance network system will provide a solution to meet the communications and mobility needs of these critical deployments."

"Rajant Corporation is excited about partnering with Fortress Technologies to provide a flexible, robust, highly secure wireless LAN with a small footprint that is incredibly simple to set-up, operate and maintain in virtually any environment," said Jim Washington, president of Rajant Corporation. "BreadCrumb's are by far the best solution for the mobile communications needs of the military and first responders."

Rajant Corporation has developed wireless broadband systems and components that have multiple applications in homeland security, public safety, security and enterprise networking sectors. Rajant Corporation's wireless LAN systems are portable, mobile, battery powered, self-integrating, self-meshing, self-healing, full duplex, secure 802.11 access points.

Fortress Technologies solutions protect against the interception of important network data, viewing of internal network addresses or interruption of network availability through denial-of-service attacks. Fortress employs end-to-end protection, Layer 2 encryption and a unique Multi-Factor Authentication approach, which authenticates access at the network, device and user levels to ensure privacy and network integrity.