Tech startup-up breaks into wireless world 
Nov 2,  2006


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Tahoe Daily Tribune writer

"It's a small world," is no longer cliché at Lake Tahoe.

That's because AirTegrity of Stateline launched its wireless communications 
product line in November, materializing a concept that had been in 
development for four years.

The privately held company develops and manufactures a complete broadband 
wireless communications system.

 

For the last two years, the high-tech duo of Greg Phillips and Greg 
Felton have run a fixed wireless pilot program at the lake through all kinds 
of weather. This year, their subscriber station was put to the test - 
especially during December's hefty dumping of snow.

The global company is using a Reno subcontractor, Vital Systems, for 
voice, data and video communications on business-to-business applications. 
But there's also the opportunity to sell consumer direct in this $8 billion 
industry in which a dozen companies compete for the lion's share of the 
market. 

The AirTegrity line interfaces with T3, 10/100BaseT, T1, E1, and DSL 
services.

"People call us from Zephyr Cove because the infrastructure is so old," 
aid Phillips, a former consultant from Australia. "This business is big."

The company's founder and chief executive officer and Felton, 
AirTegrity's president, who worked for Hewlett Packard for 18 years, said 
they've noticed rural areas are poorly served in this technology. And 
Tahoe's geography presents "unique challenges," Phillips emphasized.

The businessmen want to offer a low-cost alternative to a high-grade 
wireless product for the world. For example, the AirVantage module base 
price runs $600. A base station with a wireless router costs $5,300. 

With the global wiring structure estimated to cost about $1,000 per meter 
to install, it's been reported that half the world's population has never 
placed a phone call.

"This is the only realistic way to do this - to do it wireless," Phillips 
said.

Of course, nothing worthwhile - especially in relation to startups - 
comes easy.

The lights have been on late at night at their Kingsbury Grade offices, 
and Phillips' dog has his bed parked in a corner.

"My wife's supportive," Phillips said.

He and Felton believe they'll need to double the 20 employees they have 
working for them now. The need will be strong in the area of software 
engineering and support.

The company can be reached at (775)588-8800.

 

- Susan Wood can be reached at (530)542-8009 or via e-mail at
swood@tahoedailytribune.com