JetBeam IrDA Infrared Protocol Stack Now Supports Hewlett-Packard Variable Power Transceivers

Business Wire, Feb 22, 1999

CORVALLIS, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 1999--

Counterpoint delivers increased battery life for infrared-enabled,

small embedded devices

Counterpoint Systems Foundry, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Extended Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: XTND), announced that the company has added support for Hewlett-Packard variable power transceivers to the JetBeam 2.1 protocol stack, allowing developers to create IrDA-compliant infrared devices that maximize battery life.

Because infrared devices require less power to transmit information when they are in close proximity, substantial power savings are realized by using a variable power transceiver to dynamically adjust the power consumption to the minimum amount required for each transmission. Counterpoint's JetBeam 2.1 protocol stack provides algorithms to recognize when devices are close to one another so that the power output can be reduced. Developers can customize these algorithms to attain optimal power savings for their specific device's usage model. Developers can set a minimum power level that will be adjusted up if errors are detected, or select the Auto option to dynamically adjust power level to the minimum level required for error-free transmission.

"When designing a mobile device such as our AccessLink II two-way pager, you are constantly doing trade-offs between battery life and performance," said Eugene Leung of Genayre Technologies' Wireless Access Group. "The concept of a variable power tranceiver makes a lot of sense - you are able to better manage the power consumption with no sacrifice in performance."

"Increased battery life makes any product more user-friendly," said Nathan Pendleton, president of Counterpoint. "As the market becomes more competitive, improved battery life can sell a product. With the JetBeam 2.1 IrDA protocol stack, developers have a rapid development solution that delivers dramatically-improved battery performance for their infrared communications."

Counterpoint's JetBeam product is an infrared protocol stack that complies with the Infrared Data Association specifications. Counterpoint also provides modules that run on top of JetBeam which implement the IrDA IrCOMM, IrOBEX, RTCON, and IrTran-P specifications. JetBeam is designed specifically for the embedded market so it is small, configurable, highly reliable, and has been ported to numerous operating systems. It runs at up to 4.0 Mbps (IrDA 1.1 standard), far faster than any serial line communication.

About Counterpoint Systems Foundry

Headquartered in Corvallis, Ore., Counterpoint is a leading provider of IrDA infrared communications software. Founded in 1995, Counterpoint provides leading-edge, efficient, and high-quality infrared communications software, development tools, and applications. Counterpoint's founders are pioneers of the Infrared Data Association community, and the company continues to author, extend, and promote the IrDA standards. Counterpoint operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Extended Systems, Inc. Extended Systems designs, develops, and sells distributed and mobile computing solutions. Extended Systems' common stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol "XTND."

For more information, please contact Breton Buckley at Counterpoint Systems Foundry, Inc., 409 Alberto Way, Suite C, Los Gatos, CA 95032. Telephone: (408) 358-8630. Fax: (408) 357-0266. Email: bretonb@countersys.com. Web: www.countersys.com.

JetBeam is a trademark of Counterpoint Systems Foundry, Inc. All other products are the trademarks, service marks, or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

(Except for historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, such as Counterpoint's ability to successfully exploit market developments, are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These include the impact of competitive products and pricing, alternative technological advances, the timely and successful development and market acceptance of new products, and upgrades to existing products.)