As Avalanche wirelessly updates the operating system on the device, the configurations and settings are preserved. This preservation of data enables the device to function and communicate with the network immediately following the OS update. In addition, the OS updates can now be centrally deployed just as other software and settings.

In the past, updating a device’s operating system was very time consuming and led to extra work for the network administration staff. This extra work included taking the device offline, shipping the device to the update facility, manually installing the OS update, and reinstalling lost settings and applications onto the device. With Wavelink Avalanche Mobility Center’s operating system update functionality, administrators can send out the updates over the wireless network to the selected Symbol/Motorola devices without a technician ever touching the device, saving time and money.

With security protocols and requirements continuing to evolve, Motorola is actively adding new protocols to their radio drivers to provide WPA and WPA2 security options for their customers. As these and future security options become available, there is a pressing need for network administrators to get these updates onto the devices in an economical and proficient manner.

The OS update process can be enhanced with Avalanche MC 4.2 as new features have been added to deal with large files. The Windows OS updates currently are as large as 32MB. If there are problems during a download and it is aborted, instead of starting from the beginning, Avalanche MC 4.2 will pick up from where the file download was dropped, eliminating the need to transfer the entire file. Avalanche MC 4.2 also allows Bandwidth Throttling and Blackout Windows. This is helpful for downloading large amounts of data to a site over low-speed connections, as the maximum number of simultaneous downloads can be specified and downloads can be restricted to certain times.

Supported Symbol/Motorola devices for the OS updates include the MC9090 for CE 5.0, the MC3090 for CE 5.0, and the WT4090 for CE 5.0. Future plans include support for the MC9090 for Windows Mobile, the MC70 for Windows Mobile and for the VC5090 for CE 5.0.

Avalanche MC provides management of each element of a wireless system, provisioning and maintaining all major brands of handheld mobile computers, wireless infrastructure devices and peripheral items such as printers and barcode scanners. Avalanche MC also provides OS updates to numerous other name-brand devices in addition to the Symbol/Motorola devices.

Avalanche Mobility Center OS update functionality is available for download through the Wavelink website.