Motorola’s WaveGuide 2.0 Supports Microsoft Windows, Multiple Wireless Networks
LAS VEGAS — November 16, 1992 — Monday at COMDEX/Fall, Motorola's RadioWare Solutions Group announced a new version of its WaveGuide software developers' toolkit, adding support for Microsoft's Windows 3.1 environment and usage on multiple wireless data networks, with initial support for the ARDIS and RAM Mobile Data wireless data networks.
WaveGuide 2.0 is a connectivity tool that enables software developers to quickly and easily add wireless capabilities to their new or existing applications. WaveGuide provides a consistent application programming interface (API) that allows developers to build applications for multiple wireless data networks with minimal code changes.
The WaveGuide API provides a high-level C language interface that is independent of the underlying wireless network protocols and modem interfaces. WaveGuide allows developers to quickly and easily create protocol-independent and network-agile applications while leveraging their code development among multiple networks. WaveGuide shields developers from the complexities of wireless technologies.
WaveGuide is the software communications link that brings together computing devices and wireless networks. Coupled with wireless modems and network devices, software designers can create applications that operate with a variety of wireless modems and portable computing devices in either a DOS or Windows environment.
Business Partner Solutions Inc. (BPSI) of Westmont, Ill., was the first software devloper to ship a WaveGuide-enabled wireless product; BPSI's AS/MESSENGER RadioPac manages wireless communications between host IBM AS/400s and any DOS-based portable device used by the mobile workforce.
"The orginal WaveGuide 1.0 toolkit allowed us to quickly develop wireless applications under DOS for the ARDIS network," said Brian Derr, BPSI president. "WaveGuide 2.0 will allow us to maximize our development investment by providing us with portability across various wireless data networks."
"With our heritage in mobile communications, Motorola is strategically positioned to take a leadership role in developing the market for wireless computing applications," said Susan B. Major, business strategy manager for Motorola's RadioWare Solutions Group. "WaveGuide is another key product in Motorola's family of leading-edge wireless connectivity products that bridges the gap between wireless communications and personal computing devices."
WaveGuide is the first commercially available toolkit that supports multiple networks. WaveGuide-based applications allow two-way data communications over both ARDIS and RAM, two popular wireless networks tht transmit data using radio-packet technology. The ARDIS network is a partnership of IBM and Motorola, and operates the first nationwide radio data information service enabling in-building and on-street communications between handheld terminals and host computers. ARDIS has coverage in more than 400 of the major metropolitan areas in the United States. WaveGuide 2.0 also supports ARDIS' planned network expansion at 19.2 Kbps, including nationwide automatic roaming. RAM's network is available in 60 metropolitan service areas across the United States, building to 100 city sites by mid-1993.
WaveGuide 2.0 is priced at $1,495 and will ship in the fourth quarter of 1992. The run-time environment is based on quantity.
Motorola Inc. is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications technologies, products and services. The company's proven leadership in RF technology and its expertise in microelectronics, data communications, computing and information management offer partners and customers a comprehensive range of solutions to enable a new generation of wireline and wireless voice, data, facsimile, image and video communications.
CONTACT:
Motorola Inc.
Dave Altounian, 708/576-1910
The Benjamin Group Inc.
or
Kathy Kohout, 408/559-6090
Business Partner Solutions Inc.
Brian Derr, 708/323-9292