CompuServe, TechSmith and McCaw Cellular Communications to provide seamless service for remote LAN access; joint technology demonstration at COMDEX highlights each company's unique strengths.LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1994--The Wireless Data Division of McCaw Cellular Communications Inc., CompuServe Inc.'s Network Services Division and TechSmith Corp. Wednesday announced a strategic technology partnership that will enable end-users to access corporate data via McCaw's AirData wireless network and CompuServe's wireline public data network (PDN (1) (Packet Data Network) See packet switching. (2) (Premises Distribution Network) The network that connects a customer's ADSL transceiver (ATU-R) to the Service Modules (PCs, routers, set-top boxes, etc.). See DSL. ) using the same software application. All three companies are participating in the first-of-its-kind technology demonstration in McCaw's booth at the Fall/COMDEX '94 show here this week. This partnership brings together CompuServe RLA RLA Residential Landlords Association (UK) RLA Registered Landscape Architect RLA Redevelopment Land Agency RLA Regional Learning Alliance (Cranberry Township, PA) RLA Rated Load Amps , the only fully managed end-to-end remote LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. access service, with the leading McCaw AirData wireless network service, based on Cellular Digital Packet Data (communications, protocol) Cellular Digital Packet Data - (CDPD) A wireless standard providing two-way, 19.2 kbps packet data transmission over exisiting cellular telephone channels. (CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) A low-speed, digital, wireless data network that is an enhancement to an existing analog cellular network. Based on IBM's CelluPlan II, CDPD provides a packet overlay onto the AMPS network and moves data at 19. ) technology, as well as a leading remote client/server access technology from TechSmith Corp. "Corporate America needs convenient access to information and we're committed to working with industry leaders to provide wireless solutions," said Jeff Damir, strategic marketing manager for McCaw's Wireless Data Division. "The CompuServe, McCaw and TechSmith collaboration marks a significant technology accomplishment for seamless, wireless-to-wireline access to data and services for corporate end-users, regardless of their physical location." The companies are addressing technology challenges with a comprehensive business solution. End-users will benefit from increased speed, access, flexibility and performance. This alliance will simplify usage and minimize training since end-users will be using the same application for wireless and wireline access. In addition, because McCaw and CompuServe will provide a turn-key solution along with end-user support, overall MIS support requirements will be decreased. Developed by McCaw and a group of the nation's cellular providers, CDPD sends data over the existing cellular infrastructure. CDPD natively supports IP and as a result is well suited for a variety of different applications and equipment options. CDPD technology offers superior versatility, ubiquity, speed, reliability, openness and robust security. "CDPD technology and its inherent efficiency and high bandwidth are well-suited to deliver seamless, wireless-to-wireline entry into remote LAN access services," noted Greg Moore Greg Moore may refer to:
TechSmith works closely with CompuServe's Network Services Division, furnishing premier remote access software and technical/sales training support for CompuServe RLA. CompuServe RLA consists of TechSmith's remote access software, CompuServe's high speed PDN and a communications server See network access server, modem server, terminal server and communications controller. (operating system) Communications Server - IBM's rebranding of ACF. provided by CompuServe that attaches to the user's home-office LAN. TechSmith's flagship product A primary product of a company, which is typically why the company was founded and/or what made it well known. For example, MS-DOS, Windows and the Microsoft Office suite have been flagship products of Microsoft. CorelDRAW is a flagship product of Corel Corporation. , Enterprise Wide, plays a critical role in this technology partnership. Enterprise Wide includes exclusive ProtocolAssist technology that adds intelligence to optimize the conversation between the client and the gateway. ProtocolAssist keeps the LAN protocol overhead on the LAN and off the wireless link so that application performance is optimized for real time, client/server functionality. "This collaboration exemplifies the new options for access that are now available to remote users," said Bill Emerick, vice president of marketing, TechSmith. "With TechSmith's robust multi-protocol remote access technology, end users are linked via CDPD, circuit-switched cellular or wireline network services to the LAN, regardless of where they are physically located." Application Examples CompuServe and McCaw recognize that their corporate customers want both easy wireline and wireless access to meet the widely diverse needs of their mobile workforces. For example, many Lotus Notes Messaging and groupware software from IBM Lotus that was introduced in 1989 for OS/2 and later expanded to Windows, Mac, Unix, NetWare, AS/400 and S/390. Notes provides e-mail, document sharing, workflow, group discussions and calendaring and scheduling. users are gaining access to corporate data using TechSmith's technology over CompuServe's network. Now, McCaw's AirData service will provide mobile professionals with a wireless connection, essentially providing around-the-clock access to LAN-based applications from virtually any location. The companies are committed to working with industry leaders to provide solutions for corporate customers. For example, TechSmith remote access technology will be extremely beneficial in a scenario where a user needs remote access to corporate data stored in a Sybase SQL server Sybase SQL Server - Adaptive Server Enterprise . "Sybase understands it is extremely beneficial for customers to have the ability to provide seamless remote access solutions to their client/server environments," said Mark Pine, senior vice president of server and connectivity group at Sybase. "TechSmith's products have shown the ability to enhance Sybase's SQL Server An earlier relational DBMS from Sybase and from Microsoft. Sybase introduced SQL Server in 1988 for various Unix versions. In that same year, with help from IBM, Sybase created an OS/2 version that Microsoft licensed and branded as Microsoft SQL Server. performance in a distributed computing environment See DCE. Distributed Computing Environment - (DCE) An architecture consisting of standard programming interfaces, conventions and server functionalities (e.g. naming, distributed file system, remote procedure call) for distributing applications transparently across networks and we look forward to supporting McCaw and CompuServe in this new alliance." About TechSmith TechSmith Corp. is a premier developer of client/server remote access technology. Enterprise Wide, the company's flagship product, allows effective remote use of distributed data and services. Unlike casual connectivity products, Enterprise Wide is designed specifically to enhance deployment and utilization of client/server technologies. The company, established in 1987, is based in East Lansing, Mich., and is privately held. About McCaw Cellular McCaw Cellular Communications Inc. is the largest cellular service provider in the United States and is developing and marketing a broad range of wireless communications services, including a cellular network that spans the continent and is capable of transmitting voice and circuit-switched data communications. Headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., McCaw established its Wireless Data Division in April 1993 to develop and provide service through its CDPD-enabled network. CDPD networks have been turned on in Seattle, the San Francisco Bay area “Bay Area” redirects here. For other uses, see Bay Area (disambiguation). The San Francisco Bay Area, colloquially known as the Bay Area or The Bay , Las Vegas, New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , Miami and Dallas. The company plans to deploy CDPD in all its markets around the country. About CompuServe CompuServe Inc. provides local- and wide-area networking services including frame relay, remote LAN access, commercial Internet services, electronic mail, business information services See Information Systems. and software to major corporations and government agencies worldwide. In addition, the CompuServe Information Service (company) CompuServe Information Service - (CIS) One of the services run by CompuServe Corporation. CIS provides a wide variety of information and services, including bulletin boards, on-line conferencing, business news, sports and weather, financial transactions, electronic mail, provides its worldwide membership of more than 2.4 million with almost 2,000 databases and services to meet both business and personal interests. For more information about CompuServe Network Services, call toll-free: 800/433-0389. Outside the United States, dial 614/798-3366. CompuServe, with world headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, is an H&R Block (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :HRB HRB H&R Block, Inc. HRB Harbin, China (Airport Code) HRB Human Resources Branch (Canada) HRB Haiti International Airline (ICAO code) HRB Human Rights Bureau ) company. -0- NOTE TO EDITORS: AirData is a servicemark of McCaw Cellular Communications Inc. TechSmith is a registered trademark and Enterprise Wide is a trademark of TechSmith Corp. All other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Notes is a trademark of Lotus Development Corp. CONTACT: McCaw Cellular
Todd Wolfenbarger, 206/828-1851
CompuServe
Andy Boyer, 614/789-3373
TechSmith
Vicki Griffith, 517/333-2100
Waggener Edstrom
Teresa Fausti-Flora or Jennifer Gehrt, 503/245-0905
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