SPONSORED LINKS
IBM Wireless Modem for Mobitex
Announced on March 14, 1995
HARDWARE Announcement 195-083
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| IN BRIEF . . . |
| |
| o Delivers wireless wide area networking (WAN) over Mobitex |
| network |
| |
| o Offers two-way messaging capability |
| |
| o Provides improvement over pagers and landline phones |
| |
| o Delivers wireless data connectivity for notebook PCs |
| |
| o Offers wireless data transmission as high as 8 kbps |
| |
| o Provides connectivity to IBM and non-IBM computers that |
| adhere to the PCMCIA industry standard |
| |
| o Ships with RAD-I/O and RAD AT from Research in Motion |
| |
| o Ships with ZAP-it software and one month service from DTS |
| Wireless |
| |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------+
The IBM Wireless Modem for Mobitex is a compact, high-speed radio
modem transceiver for mobile data communications services through the
Mobitex network. The IBM Wireless Modem for Mobitex enables mobile
workers to access client/server applications, two way messaging
services, and remote e-mail and fax services. The compact PCMCIA
Type III adapter can be installed internally in the ThinkPad(R) or
any PCMCIA-enabled mobile computer.
The Wireless Modem for Mobitex should be of interest to the following
industries:
o Finance
o Distribution
o Telecommunications and Media
o Public Safety
The Wireless Modem for Mobitex supports the MASC protocol at a data
transfer rate of 8 kbps. Microcode is included to permanently
replace the MASC microcode with AT(R) microcode.
Software: The Wireless Modem for Mobitex ships with two RADical
wireless tools from Research in Motion (RIM), RAD-I/O and RAD AT**,
and ZAP-it** wireless messaging software and service from Data
Transmission Services, Inc. (DTS). DTS provides 30 free days of
service and up to $50 of usage charges in addition to the ZAP-it
software. DTS is a long-distance service provider for RAM Mobile
Data, which provides commercial radio packet data networks.
Purchase Price: $795
Planned Availability Date: April 28, 1995
(R) Registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation
** Company, product, or service name may be a trademark or service
mark of others.
DESCRIPTION
Anytime Anyplace Connectivity
Mobile computer users now have increased productivity, as they can
communicate wirelessly over the Mobitex network nationwide. This
two-way messaging capability is an improvement over pagers and
landline phones.
Pagers require a user to respond to a message by finding a landline
phone or using a cellular phone to answer a question or respond to a
page. If the requestor needs data, the mobile user has to connect
his computer through a modem to a phone connection to send the data.
Now a user can respond with the appropriate data directly to the
requestor.
Application Software Shipped With Wireless Modem for Mobitex
RADical wireless tools from Research in Motion (RIM), RAD-I/O and RAD
AT, are a Microsoft** Windows+-based interface to Mobitex wireless
network with status information and tools for file transfer and AT
emulation.
RAD-I/O features:
o Operates with all MASC-compatible radio modems
o Provides status display window with radio coverage, battery status
and receive/transmit
o Supports file transfer
RAD-AT features:
o Allows wireless communication programs to use a standard AT
interface
o Implements a superset of the AT interface with Mobitex-specific
extensions
o Operates with all MASC-compatible modems
Software, Service, and Free Airtime (30 Days)
ZAP-it wireless massaging lets mobile professionals send and receive
electronic messages from their portable computer 24 hours a day,
without the use of phone lines.
ZAP-it features:
o Allows users to prepare and send short messages, word processing
documents, file attachments, faxes, and page messages wirelessly
o Allows user to read, store, delete, and reply to messages easily
o Offers a cost-effective alternative to other nationwide paging
methods. (A subscription is required to continue service after
the 30-day trial period.)
ZAP-it e-mail: Users can reach anyone, including ZAP-it users with
an Internet address.
o Send messages wirelessly to users on any e-mail system connected
to a worldwide Internet, such as Prodigy**, America Online,
CompuServe, AT&T Mail, MCI Mail, and private e-mail systems, such
as OfficeVision(R).
ZAP-it Fax: With ZAP-it, users can fax from anywhere in the RAM
coverage area.
o Fax messages to machines anywhere in the world and get delivery
confirmation.
o Store frequently faxed documents, such as sales brochures, price
sheets, order forms, and catalogs, for electronic faxing at a
moment's notice.
Open Standards
The Wireless Modem for Mobitex conforms to Mobitex Interface
Specification.
PRODUCT POSITIONING
IBM Wireless Modem for Mobitex Product Positioning
.-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------.
| | | Wireless| | |
| | Wireless| Modem |Wireless| ThinkPad |
| | Modem | for | Modem | Mobile |
| | for | Cellular| for | Communications |
| | ARDIS | /CDPD | Mobitex| Module |
|-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------|
| | | V.31bis,| | |
| | MDC 4800| TXCEL, | | V.32, |
| | and | and CDPD|MASC and| MNP- 5 |
| Protocols | RD-LAP | 1.0 | AT | and CDPD |
|-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------|
| Signaling | | | | |
| Rates | 4.8 and | 14.4 | | |
| (kbps) | 19.2 | and 19.2| 8 | 19.2 |
|-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------|
| Duplex | Half | Full | Half | Full |
|-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------|
| | PCMCIA | PCMCIA | | |
| Form | II with | II with | PCMCIA | |
| Factor | RF Deck | RF Deck |Type III| Custom |
|-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------|
| Internal | | | | |
| Radio | | | | |
| Design | 5 Volts| 5 Volts| 5 Volts| 7.2 Volts |
|-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------|
| Cellular | | | | |
| Voice | No | Yes | No | Yes |
|-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------|
| Land | | | | |
| Line | | | | |
| Modem | No | No | No | Yes |
|-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------|
| Ethernet | No | No | Yes | No |
'-----------+---------+---------+--------+----------------'
PUBLICATIONS
The following publications are shipped with the product.
Order Part
Title Number Number
Product Description and
Guide to Operations SH11-3075 29H3900
AT Commands Manual SH11-3076 29H3901
The MASC Protocol Programmer's Reference (GH11-3077) is also
available. To order, contact your IBM representative.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Specified Operating Environment
Physical Specifications:
o Digital Modem/RF Deck:
- Width: 54 mm
- Depth: 85.6 mm
- Height: 10.5 mm
- Weight: 57 g
o Battery Assist:
- Width: 48 mm
- Depth: 33 mm
- Height: 38 mm
- Weight: 68 g
Environmental:
o Operating Temperature: -25(degs)C to 60(degs)C
o Storage Temperature: -40(degs)C to 70(degs)C
o Relative Humidity Operating/Storage: 5% to 95%
Power:
o 5.0 VDC from System Unit (across PCMCIA)
o Power Saving Modes
- Transmit Mode Average Power: 80 mA
- Receive Mode Average Power: 80 mA
- Stand-by Mode Average Power: 20 mA
- OFF Mode Average Power (Charging Battery): 8 mA
Radio Characteristics:
o Operating Range:
- Tx: 896 MHz -- 902 MHz
- Rx: 935 MHz -- 941 MHz
o Half-Duplex
o 2 W Transmit Power: Controlled in 5 steps (0, -3, -5.2, -9, -15
dB)
o Receiver Sensitivity: -113 dBm
Hardware Requirements: IBM has tested and supports a number of
portable computers, including selected IBM ThinkPads and non-IBM
notebooks. For a current list of tested PC notebooks, call
800-772-2227.
Software Requirements: Wireless Modem for Mobitex must be recognized
by a PC card utility. Wireless Modem for Mobitex has been tested
with Easyplay and PC card director products. This includes DOS and
DOS/Windows.
These products can be installed from the ThinkPad(R) Utilities
Diskette 1.31, or later. The ThinkPad utility diskette was packaged
with your 755 CE, CD, or CSE. For other ThinkPads you can request
this from your BBS or IBM Representative.
o ThinkPad Models and Diskettes Required
- TP 750: ThinkPad Utility Diskette 1.31, or later
- TP 755CE: PCMCIA Features Diskette 1.00
- TP 755CD: PCMCIA Features Diskette 1.00
o IBM PC Card Utilities
- IBM DOS Socket Services Driver, Version 1.21, or later
- PCMCIA Socket Services Release 2.00, or later
- IBM DOS Card Services Driver, Version 1.18, or later
- PCMCIA Card Services Release 2.00, or later
- IBM DOS PCMCIA Resource Map Utility Device Driver,
Version 1.05, or later
- PC Card Power Management Driver Version 2.07, or later
- IBM DOS PCMCIA PC Card Auto Configurator Version 1.06, or later
- Easyplaying/PC Card Director for Windows 1.01, or later
- Easyplaying/PC Card Director for DOS 1.02, or later
o Hardware Diagnostics and Protocol Loader
- IBM DOS 5.2 to IBM DOS 6.3
- MS DOS 5.02 to MS DOS 6.2
Wireless Modem for Mobitex ships with a microcode loading utility
that you can use to update the adapter, as new features are added
to the network. Updated versions of the microcode are available
on the IBM PC Support Bulletin Board System (BBS) at
(919)-517-0001. This utility can also be used to change the
protocol in the adapter to AT or MASC.
o Mobitex Support Panel (Version 1.0) under Windows 3.1
o End-User Applications Tested
- RAD AT/WIN (Version 1.02)
- RAD-I/O/WIN (Version 1.02)
- ZAP-it/WIN (Version 1.2)
- cc:Mail Mobile/WIN (Version 2.03)
- RadioPAC/WIN (Field Sales Demo)
- Passport/WIN (Version 1 r2.1 level H)
Compatibility: The IBM Wireless Modem for Mobitex is interoperable
with all systems that have at least a Type III PCMCIA slot. All IBM
and non-IBM platforms that have at least a Type III PCMCIA slot are
supported if they have an acceptable noise floor and the PC card
utility that recognizes the modem.
Limitations: The user should not use the product in airplanes nor
near blasting areas.
Planning Information
Customer Responsibilities:
o Customers must arrange airtime billing with the network provider.
o Customers must agree to use DTS as their long-distance carrier
between the RAM regional networks.
o Vertical applications require client and server software and a
landline connection between the customer premise and the Mobitex
network for vertical applications.
Cable Orders: No cables required
Problem Determination: Product Description and Guide to Operations
includes a troubleshooting and diagnosis section.
Packaging: One box
Shipment Group
o IBM PCMCIA Wireless Modem for Mobitex
- Support Software Diskette
- IBM Pubs Bundle
-- Product Description and Guide to Operations
-- AT Commands Manual
- RIM Bundle
-- RAD-I/O, RAD AT, and Peer-to-Peer Diskette
-- RAD-I/O, RAD AT, and Peer-to-Peer Publication
-- RAM Coverage Guide
- DTS Wireless Bundle
-- ZAP-it Diskette
-- ZAP-it User's Guide
- DTS Order Confirmation Form
- RAM Mobile Data Service Agreement
- Wireless modem with battery, antenna, screws and a screwdriver
Security, Auditability, and Control
User management is responsible for evaluation, selection, and
implementation of security features, administrative procedures, and
appropriate controls in application systems and communications
facilities.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Feature Section
MES Discount Applicable: No
Field Installable Feature: Yes
Warranty Period: One year
Customer Setup: Yes
All other terms and conditions are the same as those applicable to
the IBM machines in which the feature is installed.
CHARGES
Feature Machine Purchase
Description Number Type/Model Price
Wireless Modem for
Mobitex 5949 8550-ZZZ $795
** Company, product, or service name may be a trademark or service
mark of others.
+ Trademark of Microsoft Corporation