Xircom announces new family of 33.6 PC Card modem products; offer increased performance and broad international connectivity; new features include rugged MiniDock connector system.THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. , Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 1, 1996--Xircom Inc. (Nasdaq: XIRC), the leader in connectivity solutions for 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 professionals, Tuesday announced the company has begun shipping a new family of 33.6Kbps (V.34-1996) PC Card modem products to meet the connectivity requirements of the most demanding global business traveler. Performance and Connectivity Enhancements Both the CreditCard Ethernet+Modem 33.6 (CEM CEM contagious equine metritis. CEM selective medium chocolate agar made with Eugon agar and 5% horse blood; used to cultivate Taylorella equigenitalis. 33.6) and CreditCard Modem 33.6 (CM 33.6) feature a new 16-bit modem architecture that incorporates the latest V.34 technology to enhance modem performance and reliability. The new V.34-1996 standard, which is due to be ratified this fall by the International Telecommunications Union See ITU. (body, standard) International Telecommunications Union - (ITU) ITU-T, the telecommunication standardisation sector of ITU, is responsible for making technical recommendations about telephone and data (including fax) communications systems for PTTs and suppliers. (ITU (International Telecommunication Union, Geneva, Switzerland, www.itu.ch) A telecommunications standards body that is under the auspices of the United Nations. Comprising more than 185 member countries, the ITU sets standards for global telecom networks. ), is an extension of the current V.34 standard that provides two additional data transmission speeds, 31.2Kbps and 33.6Kpbs. Modems implementing the new standard connect at higher speeds more frequently (30 percent on average), as well as deliver more reliable and frequent 26.4Kpbs and 28.8Kpbs connections over real-world phone lines than today's V.34 modems. Key user benefits include faster file downloads and reduced online connection charges. Xircom's new modem architecture uses an advanced, high-performance 16-bit microcontroller and a 16-bit data path that enable data transfers to occur twice as fast as traditional 8-bit microcontroller-based modems. This boosts modem performance, particularly during functions such as compression and/or error correction. The CEM 33.6 incorporates Xircom's Performance Series Ethernet technology, featuring Advanced Look-Ahead Pipelining to increase throughput by as much as 60 percent over competitive solutions. The adapter is the industry's only PC Card to offer full-duplex data transmission, which further boosts performance when used in full-duplex Ethernet An extension to 10Base-T Ethernet implemented in a switched environment that has a dedicated line between the station and switch. It is built into the network adapter (NIC) and switch, providing bi-directional transmission that boosts bandwidth from 10 to 20 Mbps. environments. New Features That Simplify Connectivity In response to customer feedback, Xircom has developed two new features that simplify set up and operation. The MiniDock, a rugged new connector for the CreditCard Ethernet+Modem 33.6, combines both Ethernet and modem cables into a miniature, one-piece docking device that slips effortlessly into the PC Card. This new approach eliminates the need for inserting two separate connectors and thus reduces the risk of damaging them. The MiniDock is sold with the CEM 33.6 or can be purchased separately. Second, Xircom has added easy-to-read LEDs to both its MiniDock and standard modem cables to simplify modem operation and troubleshooting. The LEDs indicate modem activity and carrier detect. The 33.6 Modem Family also includes Digital Shield to safeguard the modems against damage from high-current phone lines typically found in hotels and on private branch exchanges (PBXs). Xircom Modem Xcessories Xircom offers several accessories for the CreditCard Ethernet+Modem 33.6 and CreditCard Modem 33.6 that make it easier than ever to connect to information from various locations such as hotels, airports, and customer sites. Cellular Connection Kits for both modems include a cellular interface cable that provides the portable computer user with dial-up access hot Dial-up access is a form of Internet access via telephone line. The client uses a modem connected to a computer and a telephone line to dial into an Internet service provider's (ISP) node to establish a modem-to-modem link, which is then routed to the Internet. through a variety of Motorola and AT&T cellular phones. An International Modem Travel Kit provides the global traveler with telephone adapters that enable connections to local phone systems in more than 160 countries. The adapters are packaged in a convenient travel pouch that includes Xircom's Guide to International Connectivity, which provides helpful tips on international data communications data communications, application of telecommunications technology to the problem of transmitting data, especially to, from, or between computers. In popular usage, it is said that data communications make it possible for one computer to "talk" with another. . GlobalACCESS for Unequaled International Connectivity Xircom also introduced new GlobalACCESS versions of both the CEM 33.6 and CM 33.6, designed to meet the needs of the international traveler. GlobalACCESS products include Xircom's CountrySelect software that simplifies modem set up as the traveler moves from country to country by selecting the appropriate PTT (1) (Postal, Telegraph & Telephone) The governmental agency responsible for combined postal, telegraph and telephone services in many European countries. (2) See push-to-talk. PTT - Post, Telephone and Telegraph administration specifications, including tone recognition, impedance selection, and calling and answering requirements. These products also ship with five Western European telephone adapters that simplify the physical connection to local phone systems. Both products will be certified for use in 13 major European countries by October 1996, with an additional 11 countries scheduled for certification by January 1997. "Our multinational corporate customers have asked that we make our internationally certified, fourth-generation products available 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. ," said Renee Bader, senior director of product marketing for Xircom. "Typically, these corporations have a large number of international travelers and our GlobalACCESS products make it easier for IS managers to serve and support these travelers." Other Key Features In addition to the above enhancements and features, the CreditCard Ethernet+Modem 33.6 and CreditCard Modem 33.6 include: - Plug and Play in Windows 95. - Windows-based installation software that automatically configures computer, modem, and network operating system An operating system that is designed for network use. Normally, it is a complete operating system with file, task and job management; however, with some earlier products, it was a separate component that ran under the OS; for example, LAN Server required OS/2, and LANtastic required DOS. setup to provide quick and easy installation. - Delrina WinFAX Lite and WinComm Lite software for sending and receiving faxes directly from Windows. - Flash ROM Another term for flash memory. Since flash chips can be updated over and over, the ROM (read only) designation is somewhat misleading. "ROM" is used more to mean not volatile than not changeable. See flash memory. Flash ROM - Flash Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory for easy software upgrades. - Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) A widely used network monitoring and control protocol. Data are passed from SNMP agents, which are hardware and/or software processes reporting activity in each network device (hub, router, bridge, etc. ) agent software in the CreditCard Ethernet+Modem allows any SNMP-based management station to monitor the card. - Compatibility with all leading portable computers and network operating systems Operating systems can be categorized by technology, ownership, licensing, working state, usage, and by many other characteristics. In practice, many of these groupings may overlap. , including Novell NetWare (operating system, networking) Novell NetWare - Novell, Inc.'s proprietary networking operating system for the IBM PC. NetWare uses the IPX/SPX, NetBEUI or TCP/IP network protocols. It supports MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, OS/2, Macintosh and Unix clients. , Microsoft Windows 95, Windows for Workgroups A version of Windows 3.1 introduced in 1992 that added peer-to-peer networking. See Windows. (operating system) Windows for Workgroups - (WFW, WFWG) A version of Windows 3.1 which works with a network. Although stand-alone 3. , and Windows NT. Pricing and Availability Xircom's CreditCard Ethernet+Modem 33.6 adapter and CreditCard modem 33.6 are available immediately through Xircom's worldwide network of distributors, value-added resellers (VARs), and system integrators, as well as various retail locations and catalogs. The CreditCard Ethernet+Modem 33.6 and CreditCard Modem 33.6 can be purchased for $319 and $229 respectively (estimated street price) in single quantities. Both products are available individually or in multipacks of six, 20 or 100. The MiniDock can be purchased separately or with the CEM 33.6 at no additional charge. The International Modem Travel Kit can be purchased for a suggested retail price of $129. Complete pricing information can be obtained by calling Xircom at 800/438-4526. Corporate Background Founded in 1988, Xircom is the leading manufacturer of PC Card communications products for connecting mobile and remote portable computer users to corporate networks, the Internet, and other online services from a wide variety of locations. The company's wholly owned subsidiary Wholly Owned Subsidiary A subsidiary whose parent company owns 100% of its common stock. Notes: In other words, the parent company owns the company outright and there are no minority owners. , Netaccess Inc., develops and manufactures a family of analog and ISDN ISDN in full Integrated Services Digital Network Digital telecommunications network that operates over standard copper telephone wires or other media. board-level remote access server products. NOTE: Xircom is a registered trademark of Xircom Inc. CreditCard Ethernet+Modem, CreditCard Modem, CountrySelect, Xcessories, MiniDock, Digital Shield, and Netaccess are trademarks of Xircom Inc. Other company or product names have been used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies. Xircom is headquartered in Thousand Oaks, Calif., and has regional offices in Salem, N.H.; Antwerp, Belgium; and Singapore. Sales: 800/438-4526 Telephone: 805/376-9300 Fax: 805/376-9311 CONTACT: Xircom Inc. Press and Industry Analysts Daphne Page, 805/376-6929 dpage@xircom.com World Wide Web: http://www.xircom.com or Financial Analysts Kristi Cushing, 805/376-6968 kcushing@xircom.com |
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