Toshiba Brings First Bluetooth PC Card Solution to Market.Business Editors/Hi-Tech Writers IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 25, 2000 Toshiba's Wireless Solution Empowers Portable Computer Users to Unplug From the Restraints of Conventional Wired Computing With a Fully Integrated Bluetooth PC Card, Complete With SPANworks Productivity Software. Delivering tomorrow's technology today, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS TAIS Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. TAIS Tactical Airspace Integration System (US Army) TAIS Target Architecture and Implementation Strategy TAIS Texas Apiary Inspection Service ), Computer Systems Group (CSG CSG - constructive solid geometry ) brings the first fully integrated Bluetooth(TM) PC Card solution to the U.S. market. Delivering wireless connectivity with the speed and security of a networked environment, Toshiba's PC Card and SPANworks productivity software enable team computing, so users can increase productivity no matter where their work takes them. Toshiba, one of nine Promoter companies of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) is the body that oversees the development of Bluetooth standards and the licensing of the Bluetooth technologies and trademarks to manufacturers. (SIG) established in 1998, is a driving force behind the development of wireless products and services. Leveraging its industry-leading strengths in mobility, Toshiba is the first company to bring a Bluetooth solution to market. With Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card and SPANworks software, users up to 100 feet apart can share presentations, send instant messages, transfer documents instantly and exchange business cards automatically. "As a world leader in mobility solutions, we're able to drive change in the computing industry through our aggressive R & D and exclusive strategic partnerships," said Steve Andler, vice president of marketing, Toshiba CSG. "By being the first to offer a fully integrated Bluetooth solution, we're taking mobile computing Using a computing device while in transit. Mobile computing implies wireless transmission, but wireless transmission does not necessarily imply mobile computing. Fixed wireless applications use satellites, radio systems and lasers to transmit between permanent objects such as buildings to new levels, empowering users to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that a truly mobile lifestyle can bring." Toshiba's PC Card Solution Pulls the Plug on Conventional Wired Computing Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card includes SPANworks, the first comprehensive wireless productivity and collaboration software See collaborative software. solution for portable computers. Developed by Toshiba, SPANworks enables a spontaneous, seamless network over two or more portable computers (up to a total of seven) using Toshiba Bluetooth PC Cards. Users can unplug from wired networks and instantly set up a networked team computing environment without a server or established infrastructure. Whether it's a group meeting in a conference room or students forming a study group, team computing brings the mobile experience to a whole new level. Utilizing SPANworks, electronic business cards can be exchanged at the beginning of a meeting and a slide presentation can be shared among several machines with or without the use of a digital projector See data projector. . Files can be transferred to one, a few or the entire group with a simple drag and drop A graphical user interface (GUI) capability that lets you perform operations by moving the icon of an object with the mouse into another window or onto another icon. For example, files can be copied or moved by dragging them from one folder to another. , and users can also trade messages with a friend using the chat messaging application. Technical Overview Using short-range wireless radio communication, Bluetooth technology facilitates fast and secure transmission of both voice and data at speeds of up to 1 Mbit/s, which is up to 20 times faster than a standard V.90 modem connection. Utilizing this revolutionary wireless technology, Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card can be used to connect portable computers, printers, digital cellular phones, PDAs, digital cameras, network access points and other mobile devices to one another and connect to the Internet or a 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. without the need for wires or cables. Many of these products will be available by Q1 2001. Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card is an extended Type II PC Card with an integrated antenna, which extends from the portable computer's PC Card slot A socket for inserting a printed circuit board or a PC Card (CardBus card). See PC Card. when the card is inserted. The solution is completely software upgradeable and Toshiba will be supporting new features in future software revisions. The radio's transmit power is 20dBm, for a range of up to 100 feet (usage may vary). The PC Card includes a Bluetooth software suite and SPANworks, a wireless team computing software application. The Bluetooth PC Card can be used with Toshiba and other brands of notebook PCs that have a Type II PC Card slot and the following minimum configurations: Pentium(R) 133MHz (MegaHertZ) One million cycles per second. It is used to measure the transmission speed of electronic devices, including channels, buses and the computer's internal clock. A one-megahertz clock (1 MHz) means some number of bits (16, 32, 64, etc. , 64MB RAM, and either Windows(R) 98SE or Windows 98ME. Pricing, Availability and Warranty Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card, including SPANworks software, is currently available for purchase directly from Toshiba's Web site at www.shoptoshiba.com. The current price is $199 and it comes with a one-year warranty. About Bluetooth Special Interest Group The Bluetooth wireless technology is set to revolutionize rev·o·lu·tion·ize tr.v. rev·o·lu·tion·ized, rev·o·lu·tion·iz·ing, rev·o·lu·tion·iz·es 1. To bring about a radical change in: Television has revolutionized news coverage. 2. the personal connectivity market by providing freedom from wired connections. It is a specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution providing links between mobile computers, mobile phones and other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, and network industries, is driving development of the technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes promoter companies 3Com, Ericsson, IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) , Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, and more than 2,000 Adopter/Associate member companies. About SPANworks SPANworks Inc. is a joint venture with Toshiba Corp. chartered to further develop and sub-license Toshiba's SPAN connectivity software technologies for short-range wireless. Headquartered in San Ramon San Ramon (Spanish for "Saint Raymond") may refer to one of the following places:
This enables users to focus on sharing notes, slides or files with no concern for the actual connection. SPANworks promises future versions that will link other platforms like Palm, Apple or Pocket PC. Another enhancement will provide an easy-to-use interface for developers to write custom software that employs the multi-link engine. For additional information visit the Web site at www.spanworks.com. About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. Toshiba continues to be the world's leading vendor for portable computers with 14.2 percent market share worldwide during the second quarter of 2000, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. International Data Corp. The company offers portable, desktop, projector and server computing solutions for business customers under the Toshiba brand name. For more information, call 1-800-TOSHIBA or visit the company's Web site at www.computers.toshiba.com. Dealer referrals and brochures are located at www.buy.toshiba.com. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., with annual sales of approximately $2.5 billion, Toshiba America Information Systems Inc. is comprised of six divisions, organized into two business groups, which manufacture, market and service a wide range of business and information-oriented products in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Latin America Latin America, the Spanish-speaking, Portuguese-speaking, and French-speaking countries (except Canada) of North America, South America, Central America, and the West Indies. . Products include portable and desktop computers, projectors and PC servers; voice-mail systems; digital business telephone systems; interactive voice-response systems; network systems and digital cameras. TAIS is an independent operating company operating company A business that engages in transactions with outsiders. owned by Toshiba America Inc., a subsidiary of the $52 billion Toshiba Corp., the eighth-largest computer and electronics company and the world's 26th largest industrial corporation in terms of sales Terms of sale Conditions under which a firm proposes to sell its goods or services for cash or credit. . Toshiba Corp. is a world leader in high-technology products with more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide. BLUETOOTH is a trademark owned by its proprietor and used by Toshiba, Inc. under license. All other product, service and company names are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. |
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