Farallon Debuts Netopia ISDN PC Card

Offers Blazing Fast Internet Access in Mobile Format

Mobile users needing faster access to the Internet can now look to Farallon for a solution. The Netopia ISDN PC Card provides access speeds up to eight times faster than standard 28.8Kbps modems. And while not for everyone, ISDN is currently the fastest generally available way to connect to the Internet or corporate intranets.

“ISDN is currently the fastest generally available way to connect to the Internet or corporate intranets”

Of course, ISDN does have a couple of drawbacks, including the comparatively high cost of both the modem along with the expense of an ISDN line. While primarily aimed at laptop computer users, it should also be of interest to those using either pen tablets or palmtop computers equipped with a PC Card slot.

The Netopia card uses data compression which can reduce files to a quarter of their original size. The company claims that this allows people to get the same data rate using a single channel that on other products may require two channels. The additional advantage is that by using one channel instead of two, the usage cost is cut in half.

Packaged as a PC Card, the product is easy to install and a bundled utility makes configuring the hardware straightforward. Also bundled are Timbuktu Pro for Macintosh and Netopia Virtual Office for Windows. Both products provide a number of communication functions and collaboration capabilities.

Farallon offers full technical support including providing and configuring the ISDN line along with configuring the hardware and software. The Mac version will be available in the first quarter of 1997; the PC version will follow in the second quarter.