Communications provider Motorola is to acquire pioneer wireless security vendor AirDefense, one of the last remaining independent providers of enterprise wireless intrusion prevention (WIPS) systems.

The acquisition will help Motorola compete in the fast-growing wireless security market, said Kathy Paladino, Motorola's enterprise mobility president.

"Wireless security remains a leading concern for enterprises, and this transaction will enable Motorola to deliver a common platform solution for greater indoor and outdoor protection to wireless LAN (WLAN) networks in support of the all-wireless enterprise.”

Motorola recently announced a planning tool for 802.11n deployments and the AirDefense acquisition will boost its potential to compete in the IEEE 802.11n wireless market. Although the 802.11n standard has yet to be ratified, test deployments are being looked at by enterprises.

The market for both replacement of legacy 802.11a/b/g systems and 'greenfield' deployments by 802.11n will be huge according to industry experts, and associated with that will be a demand for 802.11n WIPS.

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.