Motorola Opens ARDIS Protocol
LINCOLNSHIRE, Ill. — March 25, 1992 — In a move to dramatically accelerate the adoption of wireless data communications by the mobile workforce, Motorola announced today their decision to open the protocols utilized in the ARDIS nationwide radio data network.
As a result third-party vendors will be enabled to manufacture ARDIS-compatible terminals and/or modem devices. This decision will give manufacturers more flexibility in incorporating wireless data communications in their products and ultimately is responsive to customers' desire for more supplier alternatives.
Motorola's announcement to open the over-the-air-protocol establishes ARDIS as the leading standard in mobile data communication networks. ARDIS is the largest wireless data network service provider employing packet switched radio technology. More than nine out of 10 mobile data users on shared networks in the world today are using the ARDIS service. Both the 4.8 Kbps technology installed in ARDIS' 400+ metropolitan areas today as well as the 19.2 Kbps technology scheduled for installation later this year have been opened.
"This market responsive decision reinforces our belief that mobile data applications will grow more than tenfold over the next five years from the current base of several hundred thousand users," said Cliff Bean of Arthur D. Little Inc.
ARDIS President Jack W. Blumenstein said, "Motorola's decision to open up the protocol is a significant breakthrough for the mobile data marketplace. Wireless connectivity is the next big wave in portable computing, and we have concluded with our partners, IBM and Motorola, that an open network interface will dramatically accelerate market growth by motivating the industry to adopt wireless connectivity."
Added John Major, senior vice president and general manager of Motorola's Worldwide Systems Group, "Motorola has demonstrated with this decision its commitment to the wireless data marketplace and the continued success of ARDIS. Motorola will continue to provide 'best in class' mobile data products for wireless networks worldwide, as well as work with vendors who plan to integrate wireless data capabilities in their products."
Motorola already aggressively markets board-level radio packet modems which can be integrated into laptop and handheld computers. IBM, Telxon, Poqet, NCR, Itron and AT&T Safari Systems have previously announced plans to introduce such products with integral ARDIS communications capability. By opening the protocols and offering their WaveGuide application programmer's interface to the market, Motorola is providing these and other vendors design flexibility for future products targeted for the mobile user. "I see the recent announcement by Motorola and ARDIS as being a big step toward legitimizing packet radio technology for use in horizontal applications," said John P. Cowley, mobile commnications manager at NCR/Safari Systems. "By opening the protocol, new hardware and software vendors will be drawn to this technology, and the end-user will be the winner. I believe the whole industry will view this as a very positive move."
ARDIS will be working with Motorola and interested third parties to define support for evaluation and development associated with the open protocol specifications.
ARDIS, a partnership of IBM and Motorola, operates the first nationwide radio data information service enabling in-building and on-street data communications between hand-held terminals and host computers. The combined ARDIS and Bell-Ardis networks serve more than 8,000 cities and towns in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands and over 350 cities and towns in nine provinces in Canada. Together they cover more than 75 percent of the population and 85 percent of the business activity in the two countries. The service enables executives and mobile workers to access their corporate information systems or to communicate instantaneously with their peers from virtually any location in these metropolitan areas.
NOTE: ARDIS is a registered servicemark of ARDIS Co.
CONTACT:
ARDIS, Lincolnshire
Dean Davison or Dianne Weaver, 913/432-2600