V.32bis/V.17 Modem Chipset Now Supports Mobitex Wireless Data Protocol
BERKELEY HEIGHTS, N.J. — November 5, 1992 — AT&T Microelectronics plans to incorporate the MOBITEX two-way wireless data-transmission architecture in its V.32bis and V.17 Complete Modem Chipset, making AT&T's modem chips the first on the market to support both high-speed landline and wireless communications.
Builders of landline fax and data modems based on AT&T's chips will be able to incorporate wireless data capability as well for this open-architecture data network in small form factors, such as personal communicators and small computers.
With a single tiny modem users can communicate wirelessly– without having to hunt for a phone jack–and also plug into the phone network when convenient.
The AT&T V.32MX chips are expected to be sampling in early 1993 and be in full production by mid 1993. With them, equipment makers can provide wireless data as well as 14,400 bit-per-second landline modem and fax capability, based on a single chipset already enjoying wide use in the market. A prototype of the AT&T wireless data-modem chipset has been demonstrated on RAM Mobile Data's Mobitex packet-radio networks.
The new wireless modem chips could make a more widespread reality of economical, fast packet-data services for people in field service, field sales, delivery, dispatch, remote order-entry, and other messaging applications. Packet-data radio differs from circuit-switched cellular telephony in being optimized for shorter messages — for example, for two-way messaging, credit-card verification, and package tracking.
"This technology dovetails with everything AT&T hopes to achieve in the personal communicator market," said Bill Warwick, president, AT&T Microelectronics. "Our modem technology already fits in the credit-card sized format. Now that it's wireless, it's a full partner, along with our Hobbit family of components, in AT&T's support for personal communicator products."
AT&T's DSP-based modem technology uses the power and flexibility of the AT&T DSP16A digital-signal processor for transmission and signal recovery of the GMSK-encoded baseband signal used in the RAM Mobile Data's Mobitex packet-data networks.
In a wireless data-modem application, the AT&T DSP16A works in conjunction with other parts standard in the AT&T modem chipset, the T7525 codec, the V32INTFC, and the LMC10 modem- controller device. The four chips, which can fit within the PCMCIA Release 2 form factor, constitute a complete design solution for landline and wireless modems. An AT&T V32PID PCMCIA Interface Device is also available.
A PCMCIA modem designed with the AT&T V.32MX chipset will be capable of connecting to the telephone line through an RJ-11 connector for data and fax applications. In addition, the same PCMCIA card would connect to an external radio transceiver for operation over RAM Mobile Data's networks. A radio transceiver developed by Diablo Research of Sunnyvale California will be demonstrated at COMDEX.
"We are extremely pleased with the AT&T modem technology" said Carl Aron, Chairman of RAM Mobile Data, "We are excited about the possibilities for new terminal equipment that would expand RAM's user base and the value of our networks to customers."
The AT&T chip offering has found a warm reception among a range of suppliers in the wireless-data industry, including Diablo Research, maker of packet radios; Gandalf Mobile Systems, Inc., maker of radio modems; Hughes Network Systems, maker of wireless network equipment; and Megahertz Corp., builder of modems.
The chips will be priced, in quantities of 10,000, at $109 for the four-chip set in plastic quad flat packs. In small- outline QFPs suitable for building a modem in the PCMCIA form factor, the chip set is priced at $129.
For product literature, call the AT&T Customer Response Center, 1-800-372-2447, ext. 858 (in Canada, 1-800-553-2448, ext. 858); fax number +1-215-778-4106 (especially for customers outside North America); or by writing to AT&T Microelectronics, Dept. AL500404200, 555 Union Blvd., Allentown, Pa., 18103.
AT&T Microelectronics produces a wide range of semiconductor and electronic components for applications supporting networked computing, network infrastructure, and high-volume electronics. It also possesses deep resources in design tools and application- specific devices, including FPGAs and standard-cell ASICs.
for more information, please contact Blanchard Hiatt on 908-771-2788.
Comments Of the Community of Interest in Wireless Data Communication Don Pezzolo, president, Diablo Research: "We plan to develop both standard and custom form factors for customers who want to integrate mobile radios in portable computers and communicators."
Larry Jones, senior director, Hughes Network Systems: "AT&T has moved boldly to provide semiconductor support for wireless data. The open architecture of Mobitex is very inviting, and we envision products from Hughes Network Systems using this new technology."
Herb Wood, president, Gandalf Mobile Systems, Inc.: "AT&T's chip set provides an ideal, cost-effective, low-power platform for Gandalf's family of Mobitex radio modem devices. We see increasing demand for portable, mobile, and application-specific radio modems such as point-of-sale, telemetry, and monitoring on Mobitex."
Spencer Kirk, president, Megahertz Corp.: "The ability to combine landline and wireless capability in he same modem, based on AT&T's chip technology, makes it easy for us to 'go wireless' in our modem product line with minimal re-engineering."
CONTACT:
AT&T Microelectronics, Berkeley Heights
Blanchard Hiatt, 908/771-2788 (office)
or 908/233-9194 (home)
or R. P. Muldoon, 908/771-2825 (office)
or 201/635-6699 (home)