January 29, 2008 08:00 AM Eastern Time

Booming Nevada Mining Town Improves First Responder Communications and City Services with Firetide Wireless Mesh

LOS GATOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Firetide Inc., a leading developer of wireless mesh and access networks, today announced that the City of Elko, Nev. has deployed a Firetide wireless mesh network to successfully centralize the city’s IT services and public safety communications. Deploying a Firetide wireless mesh network enables the City of Elko to affordably and reliably connect city buildings and departments to modernize its emergency communications, deliver instant software updates, and provide Internet access for city personnel. With a population of about 36,000, Elko is known as the hub of northeastern Nevada.

Prior to the Firetide wireless network deployment, the fire station was only able to receive emergency dispatches from the dispatch center via phone. This method wasted precious minutes, and all too often inaccurate details were written down regarding the address and directions to the emergency. The wireless network, designed and deployed by Firetide partner and Nevada-based systems integrator JFG Systems, enabled the city to implement a much more robust and error-proof communications system.

“The Elko Fire Department refers to its new emergency communication system as Rip-and-Run,” said Brianne Clark, information systems manager for the City of Elko. “Now that the police department is networked to the fire department, firemen receive an instant printout of dispatch details. In addition, the dispatchers can send more timely reports via the network for inclusion in the fire department records located in the central server at the police department.”

Before deploying the Firetide network solution, it took the city’s IT team at least one day a week to provide computer maintenance for the city departments since IT staffers had to drive to each location. Now user access or passwords can be updated remotely in minutes. The city has also reduced costs with more efficient IT maintenance, distributed Internet access, and improved software solutions. For instance, the network has made it possible for multiple city departments to access a central database, which has been an asset in unifying city billing practices. Now the landfill, animal shelter, fire department, and many other departments can access the same databases and files.

“Firetide mesh networks address the needs of cities large and small to cost effectively, reliably and securely improve public safety and the efficiency of city services,” said Bo Larsson, chief executive officer of Firetide. “More importantly, the city of Elko now has a wireless infrastructure that will evolve seamlessly to support different wireless access technologies and more sophisticated municipal network applications as they become available.”

One such expansion made possible by the Firetide network is the city’s Geographical Information System that creates maps from tabular data. The network makes this project practical since it enables numerous Elko city departments to access these maps maintained in one location with a centralized database.

“With Firetide, the wireless mesh network installation was quick, easy and reliable,” said Ron Baker, president of JFG Systems. “We’ve worked with the City of Elko for many years and recommend Firetide as the best wireless network system available to create a secure, reliable, fast centralized data and IT maintenance solution.”

About Firetide Inc.

Firetide is the leading provider of wireless mesh and access networks that enable concurrent video, voice, and data for municipal, public safety, and enterprise applications. Firetide HotPort® mesh nodes and HotPoint® access points provide a reliable high performance wireless infrastructure and access solution for video surveillance, Internet access, public safety networks, and temporary networks wherever rapid deployment, mobility, and ease of installation are required. Headquartered in Los Gatos, California, Firetide is a privately held company with worldwide product distribution. www.firetide.com.

About JFG Systems Inc.

JFG Systems, Inc. provides information technology solutions to businesses, including secure wireless, ERP, VoIP and a broad range of offerings. JFG Systems designs their own Managed Services Plan, to provide businesses with proactive care for the health of their networks with clear definitions of scope and timelines to remove uncertainty and never ending expense. JFG’s proactive management technique of providing support and oversight remotely is cost effective and eliminates most unfixable emergencies. JFG Systems, Inc. is headquartered in Carson City, Nevada. www.jfgsystems.com

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