AT&T introduces half-size AT/ISA network interface card for WaveLAN wireless LAN product family

Business Wire, Nov 14, 1994

LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 1994--AT&T Wireless Communications and Networking Division (WCND) Monday announced a half-size AT/ISA bus network interface card for its award-winning WaveLAN wireless local area networking product family.

The card, operating at the 915 MHz radio frequency band, will replace the existing full-size 915 MHz AT/ISA network interface card which has been sold since 1990. The new half-size card is fully compatible with the entire existing 915 MHz WaveLAN product family: -0-

-- WaveLAN/PCMCIA for portable computing devices

-- WaveLAN MC for Micro Channel bus computers

-- WaveLAN AT/ISA for full-size AT/ISA bus computers

-- WavePOINT wire-to-wireless access point/bridge -0-

The new card helps satisfy the market demand for a full-function WaveLAN AT card that works in a half-size slot. An optional DES encryption version will also be available for customers with additional encryption and security requirements.

"By providing customers with a half-size card they now have the ability to expand the use of WaveLAN to a much broader set of computer devices," said Cess Links, WCND director of product management.

"Furthermore, with the entire WaveLAN product family offering -- including recent enhancements such as WaveAROUND seamless roaming, WaveMONITOR site verification tool and Card & Socket Services support for WaveLAN/PCMCIA -- the customer now has all the elements to create a complete wireless LAN infrastructure."

The new half-size card combines proven WaveLAN technology with an advanced heterodyne radio frequency (RF) modem providing greater RF receiver sensitivity and lower power consumption.

"The result of this heterodyne, or two-stage signal processing, approach is a more robust radio architecture with overall better coverage area in certain environments," explained Bruce Tuch, WaveLAN's manager of RF and transmissions.

AT&T has been shipping WaveLAN products since 1990 -- longer than any other vendor. According to a recent International Data Corp. study, AT&T holds a majority share of the worldwide wireless LAN market.

"The two key trends in the communications industry today are mobility and connectivity," commented WCND general manager Charles Mahaddie. "The convergence of these trends will result from wireless communications as the pacing technology.

"The introduction of this new, smaller-size WaveLAN card, together with other recent WaveLAN announcements, highlight AT&T's dedication to providing customers with the broadest, most cost-effective, best performing wireless LAN-based solutions available anywhere."

Availability

The new WaveLAN card will begin shipping the end of November. The half-size card will be list priced at $695 without DES encryption, $795 with DES encryption. Included in the product package will be the half-size WaveLAN network interface card, an external omni-directional antenna, user documentation, driver software for most major network operating systems, and WaveLAN diagnostics and configuration software.

Company Information

AT&T brings computing and communications solutions together to provide people with access to information and to each other -- anytime, anywhere. The Wireless Communications & Networking Division of AT&T, based in Utrecht, The Netherlands, entered the wireless LAN market in 1990 and ships a complete line of wireless LAN connectivity and infrastructure products worldwide.

The company's WaveLAN product suite provides customers with a mature product line that addresses multiple wireless and portable computing needs including seamless enterprise wide roaming capabilities as well as flexible solutions for desktop workstations, notebooks, laptops and hand held devices.

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Note to Editors: WaveLAN and WavePOINT are registered trademarks of AT&T Corp. WaveAROUND and WaveMONITOR are trademarks of AT&T Corp.

CONTACT: AT&T, Utrecht, The Netherlands

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