HP to Support New 4Mbps Infrared Networking Product; HP OmniBook PCs Will Integrate New IrDA-2-compatible IR Port for HP NetBeamIR LAN Access Point

Business Wire, Jan 29, 1996

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 29, 1996-- Hewlett-Packard Company today announced that HP OmniBook notebook PCs will support the new HP NetBeamIR LAN access point, an innovative infrared (IR) networking product. The HP NetBeamIR LAN access point, also announced today, gives mobile professionals fast, easy and reliable access to critical network-information resources without the use of cumbersome cables or adapters.

Current HP OmniBook notebook PC users can take advantage of a 115 kilobits-per-second (Kbps) network connection with the HP NetBeamIR LAN access point. Future HP OmniBook notebook PCs are slated to support networking transfer rates of up to 4 megabits per second (Mbps).

Establishing the connection is as simple as placing an HP OmniBook notebook PC within three feet of the HP NetBeamIR LAN access point. The connection is made within seconds.

"HP has been a pioneer in infrared technology," said Tuan Tran, product manager at HP's Mobile Computing Division. "We helped establish the IrDA committee and have integrated IR into our notebook PCs for more than two years. We're excited about the prospect of bringing 4Mbps networking to our future OmniBook PCs and about delivering on the promise of seamless connectivity at an affordable price."

Currently, the HP OmniBook 600, HP OmniBook 4000 and HP OmniBook 5000 series notebook PCs support IrDA-1 transfer rates of 115Kbps. The built-in IR port on these models allows wireless communication with other notebook PCs or palmtops as well as printing to HP LaserJet 5P printers. The OmniBook notebook PCs also support the Windows 95 interface for IrDA connectivity, jointly developed by HP and Microsoft(R).

Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing, communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 102,300 employees and had revenue of $31.5 billion in its 1995 fiscal year.

Information about HP and its products can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com. -0-

NOTE: Windows is a U.S. trademark of Microsoft Corp. Microsoft is a U.S. registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. -0-

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