2009-06-30 21:07:04 -

Modern business communication involves a variety of unique workspaces that are rarely physically connected and are increasingly unlike traditional office environments. Beyond the U.S. military, emergency responders, railroads, and large scale retailers require secure, highly reliable and versatile wireless voice and data transmission systems that can stand up to this challenge.


Since typical off-the-shelf hardware isn’t designed for such environments, these organizations find themselves turning to technology innovators such as Orlando, Florida-based Coleman Technologies : , a Cisco : Gold Certified Partner that specializes in delivering advanced and emerging technology architectures.

According to Coleman Technologies’ CEO Ben Patz, the traditional solution for meeting challenging operating environments is to build unique, customized hardware. Over the

years, the U.S. military has been utilizing an increasing number of ruggedized commercial solutions. The challenge now is that these solutions do not only apply to the military.


“Voice, video, and data communication streams are converging on IP networks as the standard. It has become imperative that ruggedized, wireless technology platforms be integrated effectively, regardless of the environmental extremes they may face," Patz said.

“Since the communication is mission-critical, there is simply no room for failure of these devices.”

Examples of successful Coleman Technologies contributions include:



- Norfolk Southern has adopted a small, ruggedized device that fits snugly in cramped locomotive cabs – the first time wireless mobility has gone aboard a U.S. rail carrier. The dirt, moisture and vibration-resistant unit meets all requirements and contains communication cards, a Cisco switch, cellular modem and a slot for an onboard computer, supporting greater fuel efficiency and helping ensure safer rail operations.


- Communication personnel with the U.S. Southern Command needed a mobile, environmentally-hardened platform to operate over any broadband Internet connection to both secret and unclassified networks. Coleman Technologies developed the “RAPTOR,” a ruggedized, lightweight, briefcase-sized mobile communications command center that supports numerous IP phones and computers through directly attached and wireless Ethernet connections.


- The U.S. Navy’s Zumwalt-class destroyers feature Cisco Unified IP Phones in cast aluminum housings with sealed enclosures, keypads and displays that operate in temperatures ranging from -40°F to 158°F.


- In the event of hurricanes, the Florida Army National Guard now employs vehicle- and truck-mounted mobile incident site systems.
Each is deployed rapidly over ground or by air and provides mobile communications using voice, video and data supported by wireless platforms and satellites. Patz says that for the first time “first responders are connected to network services while traveling at speeds up to 70 mph, thus giving teams real-time updates en route to a disaster scene.”


- Greece’s national army also needed secure, high-performance devices with climate-ready toughness while operating its network aboard vehicles. The solution came by combining the RAPTOR, a Cisco modular router, trunking equipment and a wide-area network wireless interface card.


About Coleman Technologies


Coleman Technologies, Inc., is an employee-owned business founded in 1995 to provide information technology and systems engineering services built on corporate experience in aerospace systems engineering.
Headquartered in Orlando, Florida, CTI’s staff of approximately 400 in 13 states throughout the country includes more than 300 engineers. To learn more about CTI, please visit the company’s website at www.ctiusa.com : .


Coleman Technologies, Inc.Karen Newnam,

757.663.7960 knewnam@ctiusa.com : mailto:knewnam@ctiusa.com