IBM Widens the Reach of its Wireless LANs and WANs

SAN JOSE, March 14 . . . IBM today substantially extended the reach of its
wireless LAN and WAN products, unveiling a competitive new entry-level
local area network family and forward-looking wide-area technology that
dramatically amplifies productivity for remote, "unplugged" users.

Wireless computing products announced today provide low-cost solutions in
two vital areas -- for small networks of "roaming" workers, such as
hospital, warehouse and retail store personnel -- and wide-ranging users
such as insurance agents, executives, repair technicians and public safety
workers.

Whether they work in a large office, a small office, a home office or no
office, the new wireless/remote products disclosed today expand a
customer's ability to economically enhance and alter networks, respond
quickly to fluid business conditions and increase the effectiveness,
morale and productivity of their personnel.

             New IBM Wireless LAN Entry

To meet the needs of hospitals, retail stores, factories and other
enterprises seeking to quickly establish economical computer networks or
for personnel who "roam" within predictable boundaries, IBM today
introduced its new Wireless LAN Entry system, which joins IBM's Wireless
LAN product line introduced last June.

IBM Wireless LAN Entry permits networks to be set up temporarily or where
wiring would be too expensive or impractical. Nurses can check and report
patient data, inventory clerks can update stock information or machine
tool operators working in temporary quarters can download instructions --
as if they were physically connected to an existing local area network.

IBM Wireless LAN Entry liberates customers from hard-wired expense and
commitment -- mobile networks can be moved, altered, shut down and
re-opened in response to changing conditions -- seasonal fluctuations or
unanticipated demand, for example.

It consists of a competitively priced and highly functional PCMCIA adapter
and the new IBM 8227 Access Point, a base station that links it to a wired
Ethernet LAN. An 8227 cabling feature permits separation between the 8227
station and its antenna for best placement and reception.

These elements can be used to fashion a low cost, extendible wireless
network composed of overlapping cells linked to a wired network via 8227
Access Points, or an ad hoc network may be created simply with PCMCIA
adapters. IBM Wireless LAN Entry users may roam about the resulting
network, which can be set up and changed without incurring cabling costs.

              IBM Wireless LAN Enhancements

IBM today also announced improvements for its current Wireless LAN product
line, including support for IBM OS/2 Warp* and an extended cabling feature
that gives customers the ability to separate their wireless network from
its server -- making the system even more convenient to use.

                New IBM Wireless Modems

For those who travel frequently or work at home or from a vehicle, IBM
unwrapped three new wireless laptop modems -- available at industry-
beating prices -- that provide fast access to major nationwide data
communications services-- including high-speed data, messaging, voice and
fax. Virtually every major population center and business activity area in
North America can be accessed.

Mobile executives and staff can exploit a wide variety of useful
applications such as stock quotes, news, access to critical databases and
voice mail access. These wireless, wide area network adapters announced
today can link to ARDIS, RAM MOBITEX, cellular and multiple CDPD (Cellular
Digital Packet Data) networks, including GTE Mobilnet, McCaw Cellular, Air
Touch Communications, Bell-Atlantic Mobile (BAMS), Ameritech, BellSouth
and Sprint Cellular, among others.

This wide choice of providers -- a list that will grow as IBM contracts
with others -- assures customers that they will be able to connect and use
these new wireless adapters regardless of their location or changes in the
fast- moving telecommunications industry. The new modems include:

IBM Wireless Modem for ARDIS supports the MDC4800 protocol at 4.8 kbps and
the RD-LAP protocol at 19.2 kbps. This PCMCIA Type II card permits
nationwide roaming and advanced power-saving features.

ARDIS Personal Messaging provides peer-to-peer messaging, paging, fax and
desktop connectivity. ARDIS covers more than 400 metropolitan areas in the
U.S., including 10,700 cities and 90 percent of the business activity in
the U.S. and more than 80 percent of the total US population including
Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. IBM customer
engineers will use IBM Wireless Modem for ARDIS; approximately 5,000 of
them have already been issued to date.

IBM Wireless Modem for Mobitex supports the MASC protocol or AT protocol at
8 kpbs. Designed to operate with all systems that use one PCMCIA Type III
slot, the IBM Wireless Modem for Mobitex is especially useful for
executives and staff in the finance, distribution,
telecommunications/media industries and the public safety field.

RAM Mobile Data, a company jointly owned by BellSouth and RAM, provides
coverage in 7,000 cities and for 90 percent of the U.S. urban business
population.

IBM Wireless Modem for Cellular/CDPD is designed to provide multimode
wireless support, including CDPD-based TCP/IP communications at up to 19.2
kbps and access to many cellular providers including GTE Mobilnet, McCaw
Cellular, Air Touch Communications, Bell-Atlantic Mobile (BAMS),
Ameritech, BellSouth and Sprint Cellular, among others.

Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) connections permit voice communications
through a headset as well as data and fax transmission at up to 14.4
Kbps.

Like the other IBM Wireless modems, the IBM Wireless Modem for
Cellular/CDPD can be installed internally in a number of IBM ThinkPad*
models as well as compatible portables. Advanced power management includes
battery assist and intelligent sleep modes. Supplied software includes IBM
Wireless Modem Manager -- for setup, configuration and installation as
well as dialup and connection management. Smith-Micro Software, Inc.
Quicklink** Mobile Fax/Modem and IBM TCP/IP software are also included.

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