AT&T Wireless Extends Data Services

The Wireless Data Division of AT&T Wireless Services (formerly McCaw Cellular Communications Inc.) selected Fall COMDEX to serve as the launching pad for a slew of announcements ranging from new manufacturer support for AT&T’s wireless offerings, to new service areas for the ever-expanding Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) network. Presented here is a summary of these new developments.

Norand Teams With AT&T Wireless

Norand, maker of the PENKEY line of ruggedized, pen-enabled handheld computers will now support AT&T’s wireless data connectivity on its PENKEY 6100 device. The 6100 features a 386 processor running at 33 MHz, and includes up to 8 MB of Flash along with 8 MB of RAM. Under the arrangement, Norand’s 6100 will be configured to work with either AT&T Wireless Packet Data Service or AT&T Wireless Circuit Data Service.

“The AT&T Wireless Packet Data Service is the service name for the company’s implementation of CDPD services.”

The AT&T Wireless Packet Data Service is the service name for the company’s implementation of CDPD services. One of its major advantages is its ability to support the industry standard TCP/IP protocol stack natively, enabling Internet-ready applications to work over wireless. However, since TCP/IP tends to be a chatty protocol, it is often wise to optimize an application destined for wireless to better match the bandwidth of the medium.

The AT&T Wireless Circuit Data Service, on the other hand, uses the conventional circuit-switched cellular network to provide data communication essentially anywhere cellular service is available.

Pittsburgh Joins the Family

The home of Carnegie Mellon University and the Steelers football team is the most recent city to become home to AT&T’s commercial introduction of both the Wireless Packet Data Service and Wireless Circuit Data Service. By offering both, AT&T hopes to satisfy a range of customer requirements including wireless email, fleet management, and point-of-sale verification and messaging.

While data over circuit-switched cellular is not a new service, AT&T hopes to distinguish itself from others by offering higher-quality service, together with AT&T Paradyne modem pools. The modem pools, which reside at the switching center, offers customers a reliable connection between the mobile device and the landline-connected modem pool. Without this type of system, users are generally required to have a cellular-enhanced modem on each end of the connection.

Microsoft Exchange Server Goes Wireless

Also on stage at COMDEX was a demonstration featuring remote access to Microsoft Exchange Server using the Wireless Packet Data Service. Microsoft Exchange Server is an increasingly popular LAN-based email server that also includes groupware, group scheduling, and remote access capabilities. AT&T notes that the Exchange Server is particularly well suited for packet data networks since it is equipped to offer features such as:

• Previews of headers and message size, without having to download every message in the mailbox.
• Filtering capabilities, enabling people to specify maximum message size and restrict the transmission of message attachments.
• A universal mailbox allowing all communication to reach a single location, grouped by type or subject.

AT&T Wireless Services, Wireless Data Division
Beth Bousley
(206) 803-4050
(206) 790-1602 (fax)

Norand Corp.
Dan Strother
(319) 369-3246