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On Fri, 1 Jul 1994, Randal Whittle wrote:
> Speaking of which--anyone want to hazard a guess as to when a V.34
> PCMCIA modem will be out and what they will cost? With V.34 recently ratified
> (with only the formality of a final vote remaining--not much to worry about),
> most people are saying full V.34 modems will be available for purchase as
> early as the next month or two, and no later than this fall. What kind of
> a delay can we expect in PCMCIA's? I want an XJack 28.8.... :)
For those of you interested in Megahertz products, here is a recent press
release they send inter-office mail.....enjoy!
-----cut here-----
Contact: Andy Capener
Press Relations Manager
(801) 320-7701
or
Kimberly Smith
Investor Relations
(801) 320-8000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEGAHERTZ ANNOUNCES PLANS TO BOLSTER HIGH-SPEED
COMMUNICATIONS AND MOBILE NETWORKING OFFERINGS
PCMCIA* Modem Market Leader Announces PCMCIA ETHERNET MODEM and V.34 Modem
SALT LAKE CITY, June 20, 1994 -- Megahertz Corporation (NASDAQ: MEGZ),
the worldwide market leader in mobile PCMCIA data/fax modems, today
announced plans to strengthen its position in the PCMCIA mobile
communications market with two new products: a combination PCMCIA Ethernet
Modem card and the company's first modem based on the V.34 standard. With
these new products, Megahertz will further expand its line of mobile data
communications products which includes data/fax modems, direct connect
cellular modems, Ethernet adapters, and combination cards featuring both
Ethernet and modem capabilities.
"Mobile customers are becoming increasingly dependent on products for
data communications, whether they are connecting to the network locally or
remotely through phone lines," said Ryan Ashton, Megahertz' senior vice
president of sales and marketing. "With these new products, Megahertz is
meeting the changing needs of the mobile professional, providing
comprehensive, reliable, and easy-to-use mobile networking solutions."
Enhanced Mobile Networking Capabilities
The new Megahertz Ethernet Modem will offer the same easy installation
procedures and broad compatibility that customers expect with Megahertz'
market-leading PCMCIA modems. "Our customers are not satisfied with the
existing Ethernet Modem combination card on the market and they are looking
to Megahertz, as the leader in PCMCIA modems, to add reliable networking
technologies to our product line," said Ashton.
The card will connect mobile computer users to most popular network
operating systems, while offering the dual capability of a data/fax modem,
all in the convenient PCMCIA form factor. "This is particularly relevant
in that many portable computing devices have only one PCMCIA slot, so
customers can now use that slot much more efficiently," said Ashton.
The modem provides data communications throughput at a speed of
14.4Kbps, while ethernet capabilities are offered in both 10BaseT and
10Base-2 cable configurations. As with its modems, the Megahertz Ethernet
Modem will be compatible with nearly every notebook and palmtop computer
with a PCMCIA communications slot. Additionally, Megahertz is conducting
extensive compatibility tests with leading Network Operating System (NOS)
and modem software providers.
This introduction strengthens Megahertz' network connectivity product
line. In March, the company introduced its first PCMCIA Ethernet Adapter;
now, with the introduction of the Ethernet Modem card, Megahertz is providing
a solution for mobile professionals who need both a modem and an Ethernet
adapter. The product will ship in early Fall of 1994; pricing will be
announced immediately prior to shipment.
V.34 Doubles Throughput
Megahertz' new V.34 modem is also scheduled to ship in early Fall, 1994,
after ratification of the standard by the International Telecommunications
Union, Study Group 14. The Megahertz product will provide communications
throughput at 28.8Kbps -- twice that of the current V.32bis standard -- and
incorporate Megahertz' patented XJACK connector. The increased throughput
of V.34 is expected to reduce connection times, and thus telephone charges,
when compared to 14.4Kbps modems; additionally, faster and more reliable
throughput will make it possible for users to transmit data to and from a
greater variety of software applications than in the past. Remote control,
Windows, interactive media and other applications become more practical
with the higher speed.
While some companies have been offering customers proprietary solutions
that provide faster speeds than the current V.32bis standard, Ashton is
advising customers to wait for Megahertz' fully compatible V.34 modem. "While
some users want faster throughput now, they won't be satisfied with
non-standard solutions that exacerbate compatibility issues and create
additional costs," said Ashton. "They will simply have to pay again to
upgrade or buy a new product when the standard is introduced."
According to research conducted by International Data Corporation,
more than half of modem users said they would not purchase a proprietary
solution for fear of compatibility problems. The new Megahertz modem,
manufactured with the AT&T chipset, will meet the V.34 standard as it stands
today. Additionally, the AT&T chipset has a flash upgrade capability,
allowing customers to upgrade their modems remotely, rather than having to
send the product back to the vendor for revisions.
In addition to the increased data communications speed, V.34 is the
first protocol that allows the modem to identify itself to the telephone
network equipment. It will then adapt to the characteristics of the
connection by probing the channel, setting critical parameters such as
carrier frequency, equalization, symbol rate and transmitted power in order
to maximize the data throughput. Current offerings have set parameters that
do not adapt to individual lines, which makes them more susceptible than V.34
to noise and other interference.
Customer Support
Megahertz' new PCMCIA Ethernet Modem and PCMCIA V.34 cards come with a
five-year warranty. For sales information or technical support, customers
can contact Megahertz at 1-800-LAPTOPS.
Megahertz is a leading provider of communications solutions for mobile
computers. Megahertz manufactures PCMCIA Ethernet adapters, PCMCIA data/fax
modems, PCMCIA cellular data/fax modems for selected cellular phones,
internal data/fax modems for the proprietary slots of Compaq notebook
computers, and external 'pocket' modems.
* PCMCIA - Personal Computer Memory Card International Association