Sierra unveils "Plug and Play" modem for ISA; New Auto Configuration Modem Supports Plug and Play Specification and Removes Setup Workload.SAN JOSE San Jose, city, United States San Jose (sănəzā`, săn hōzā`), city (1990 pop. 782,248), seat of Santa Clara co., W central Calif.; founded 1777, inc. 1850. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--November 2, 1994--Sierra Semiconductor today announced the addition of a new feature for its high-speed modem chip set family that adds "Plug and Play" automatic configuration of the modem, eliminating the need for complex end-user setup. End users no longer need to set hardware jumpers or spend extra time determining the technical configuration of their computers in order to install this modem with these new features in their computers. Modem OEMs can differentiate their products - today - with a feature that adds customer value now, even before the availability of Microsoft(R) Windows(TM) 95, which will have Plug and Play capability. This is the first commercially available Plug and Play solution for an ISA (1) (Instruction Set Architecture) See instruction set. (2) (Interactive Services Association) See Internet Alliance. (3) (Internet Security and Acceleration) See .NET. modem. The new controller chip, designated SC11140, incorporates the required logic to query the user's system resources (1) In a computer system, system resources are the components that provide its inherent capabilities and contribute to its overall performance. System memory, cache memory, hard disk space, IRQs and DMA channels are examples. prior to configuring itself and to determine which PC COM ports and interrupts are available. Also included is a utility to allow Plug and Play capability for the pre-Windows 95 universe. Therefore, modems designed with this new chip offer a significant user benefit in ease of installation and are essentially Windows 95-ready, as defined in the "Plug and Play" 1.0A specification developed by Intel(R) Corporation and Microsoft Corporation (company) Microsoft Corporation - The biggest supplier of operating systems and other software for IBM PC compatibles. Software products include MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, Windows NT, Microsoft Access, LAN Manager, MS Client, SQL Server, Open Data Base Connectivity (ODBC), MS Mail, . "Sierra is demonstrating leadership by being among the first to adopt Plug and Play for its products," said Carl Stork stork, common name for members of a family of long-legged wading birds. The storks are related to the herons and ibises and are found in most of the warmer parts of the world. , Microsoft's director of Windows Hardware Programs. "We're delighted to see Sierra target Windows 95 by developing modem chip sets which will be used to deliver the benefits of Plug and Play to end users." "Intel is pleased to see Sierra introduce a Plug and Play fax/modem chipset," said Len Magnuson, marketing manager, Intel Corporation. "Fax/Modem cards based on Sierra's chipset will complement Plug and Play 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. , SCSI SCSI in full Small Computer System Interface Once common standard for connecting peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, etc.) to small and medium-sized computers. SCSI has given way to faster standards, such as Firewire and USB. and Audio cards. End users will have an easier time adding fax/modems to their existing PCs and will experience full hardware autoconfiguration on Pentium(TM) processor- or other Intel architecture-based Plug and Play systems shipping today." "This capability will perk up the ears of any PC user who has experienced the frustrations and time consuming efforts of installing a new modem in an otherwise perfectly good PC," said Wiren Perera, Sierra's director of marketing for communications products. "Being able to simply plug it in and turn it on will deliver them from the switch setting and jumper moving and the jumble of strange terms like `IRQ (Interrupt ReQuest) A hardware interrupt on a PC. There are 16 IRQ lines used to signal the CPU that a peripheral event has started or terminated. Except for PCI devices, two devices cannot use the same line. .' "And it's equally good news for the modem manufacturer, because this allows him to differentiate his product now with a truly value-adding user benefit. He can do it now, without waiting for Windows 95 and still be assured that his product meets the required specs for Windows 95 when it is released in the future. Plus, the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) The rebranding of equipment and selling it. The term initially referred to the company that made the products (the "original" manufacturer), but eventually became widely used to refer to the organization that buys the products and can look forward to reduced service and 800-number application call costs because of these features allowing for fewer setup-problems," continued Perera. In the interim before Windows 95 is released, Sierra will provide its modem customers with a software setup utility that automatically configures the modem properly. The SC11140 also incorporates all the support logic needed to add Voicemail and Windows MCI-compatible business audio capabilities to a V.32bis data/fax modem. The high level of integration provides a cost-effective, minimum chip-count solution for a feature-rich V.32bis modem that now incorporates the functions of a telephone answering machine and a sound card for playing Windows wave files. The SC11140 is available now for sample quantities and production volumes. Pricing for the SQ3226 V.32bis chip set (including the SC11140) is $29.00 in volume. Sierra Semiconductor develops and markets high performance integrated circuit system solutions for the personal computer and personal communications markets. The company's IC hardware and software products are fundamental components of data, voice and facsimile modem systems and audio and color display systems. Sierra, with offices throughout North America and Europe, is headquartered in San Jose, California San Jose (IPA: /ˌsænhoʊˈzeɪ/) is the third-largest city in California, and the tenth-largest in the United States. It is the county seat of Santa Clara County. , and is traded on NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on under the symbol SERA. -0- NOTE TO EDITORS: Microsoft is a registered trademark and Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation. Intel is a registered trademark and Pentium is a trademark of Intel Corporation. CONTACT: Sierra Semiconductor, Public Relations public relations, activities and policies used to create public interest in a person, idea, product, institution, or business establishment. By its nature, public relations is devoted to serving particular interests by presenting them to the public in the most Gary W. Breeding, 408/263-9300 |
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