CIOIN

Fluke in a statement announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sunnyvale, Calif.-based AirMagnet. Terms of the deal, involving two privately held companies, will not be released. The merger is expected to be finalized "in the coming weeks."

Fluke, based in Everett, Washington, provides an array of similar solutions, including its Network SuperVision line, mainly for wireline networks for both enterprises and telecom carriers. But it does have some rival wireless offerings: AnalyzeAir, a Wi-Fi spectrum analyzer for detecting radio interference; the InterpretAir site survey tool for Wi-Fi deployment design; and the portable OptiView Network Analyzer device and software.

Nothing was said about whether or how the products will work together, or about how Fluke will deal with the similar products from the two companies. Presumably, for the near term at least, Fluke will simply continue developing and selling Fluke and AirMagnet products separately.

AirMagnet has done well consistently in Network World's "Clear Choice Tests." Its WiFi Analyzer packet capture and analysis toold tied for second place in the January test. Its Spectrum Analyzer also came in second in the March test of low-cost RF sniffers. And Tester Craig Mathias termed the AirMagnet Survey Pro application, for Wi-Fi site surveys, a "powerhouse" in his June evaluation.

AirMagnet recently updated and expanded two of its product offering to support 802.11n Wi-Fi networks.