eBusiness Solution Pros Upgrades eSP-Link Wireless Solution for the IBM iSeries Platform

Business Wire, Sept 4, 2002

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

TUSTIN, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 2002

eSP-Link Provides Wireless Networking Alternative For

iSeries Customers Running Telnet 5250 or IBM's Withdrawn

"Wireless Connection for AS/400" Products

eBusiness Solution Pros Inc. (eSP) today issued an announcement of a major upgrade to their powerful wireless networking solution called eSP-Link(TM) (www.esp400.com).

eBusiness Solution Pro's eSP-Link "server-side" emulation software is a replacement for Telnet products and IBM's Wireless Connection for AS/400. As detailed in IBM's Withdrawal Announcement #901-101 dated 4-23-01, Wireless Connection will no longer run under OS/400 V5R1, IBM's latest operating system release for the iSeries.

eSP-Link provides robust iSeries-based connectivity for 802.11b Radio Frequency (RF) handheld barcode scanning devices from Symbol and other manufacturers as well as legacy TMA and 802.11b Telxon devices. The eSP-Link Server emulation software runs natively on the iSeries platform, providing the 5250 session communications. The eSP-Link Administrator provides session and device configuration and management functionality. The eSP-Link Client software runs on the RF device, providing screen, scanner and keyboard control.

"Customers currently running IBM's end-of-life Wireless Connection software will need to migrate to a third-party solution," said eSP president and CEO David Griffith. "eSP-Link is now available through IBM Global Services (IGS) as a part of their new recommended RF migration strategy, and as the replacement solution for Wireless Connection customers who want to move to V5R1 while continuing to enjoy all of Wireless Connection's features."

eSP-Link is available from eSP, IGS and authorized resellers. It provides all of the functionality of IBM's Wireless Connection plus additional advanced control, management, usability and performance features (see Table 1) including:

-- Wide-Area Network Support. Connect to multiple host systems from any location in your LAN/WAN through TCP/IP while centrally managing all devices from the eSP-Link Administrator.

-- Session Keep-Alive. Keeps the emulation session open and active during network or radio disturbances, or due to moving out of the RF coverage area. (Prevents hung jobs and lost transactions.)

-- Device Naming. Provides each device with a unique, definable and consistent name on the host. (No more "QPADEV####" session names.)

-- Centralized Configuration and Management. Key configuration information is stored in a central server-based repository, enabling definition of attributes and proactive monitoring and management. (No need to manually enter configuration information using the device keyboard.)

-- Over-the-Air Device Control. Check a device's status, change its parameters, update its software version -- all over the air from the eSP-Link Administrator. (No more plugging into a PC to flash an upgrade.)

-- RF Device Support. Use RF devices from any of several manufacturers with a consistent look-and-feel throughout. (No more managing different versions of Telnet.)

eBusiness Solution Pros is an IBM Business Partner specializing in customized e-business solutions and services, wireless warehouse management solutions and custom programming services for IBM iSeries, PC and other platforms. eSP is located at 15991 Redhill Ave., Suite 210, Tustin, Calif. 92780. For further information, visit www.esp400.com or call 714/918-7700.

Note to Editors: eSP, eSP-5250 and eSP-Link are trademarks of eBusiness Solution Pros Inc. IBM, iSeries and AS/400 are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation.

                                Table 1

                eSP-Link Functionality vs. Telnet 5250

Features                                         eSP-Link  Telnet 5250

Session keep-alive and session recovery on
 reconnect                                          Yes          No
Device naming                                       Yes        Varies
Over-the-Air device control and update:

--  Retrieve radio statistic logs and
    configuration information from devices
    from the eSP-Link Administrator.                Yes          No

--  Send configuration changes from the
    eSP-Link Administrator.                         Yes          No

--  Update and reload the eSP-Link Client
    software from the eSP-Link Administrator.       Yes          No

Keyboard remapping                                  Yes        Varies
Java / C                                            Yes          No
Device-Side Network and Radio Diagnostics

--  Ping and trace route.                           Yes          No

--  Radio coverage monitor and statistics.          Yes          No

Multiple display sizes                              Yes         Yes
5250 sessions can coexist with other
 applications on remote clients                     Yes          No
Supports all popular barcodes                       Yes         Yes
Auto discrimination of barcodes                     Yes         Yes
Centralized management                              Yes          No
Centralized configuration                           Yes          No
XML configuration files                             Yes          No
SSL support                                         Yes          No