Motorola and the Worldwide Wireless Data Network Operators Group Announce the Opening of Key Wireless Data Software Interfaces
VANCOUVER, BC — June 10, 1993 — As we move towards the year 2000, new portable computing and productivity devices are being introduced on a daily basis.
The bridge that will link these devices to critical business applications, information and services is wireless data communications. This technology allows the mobile work force to communicate and access critical business information in real time. In support of this vision, Motorola and Worldwide Data Network Operators Group announce the opening and availability of two standard application development interfaces for public data networks utilizing the Motorola DataTAC (TM) system.
"By opening and standardizing these interfaces, system integrators, ISV's and hardware manufacturers can accelerate both the development and the commercialization of wireless-enabled applications and devices," said Ian Shiers, Vice President Wide Area Networks for Motorola's Wireless Data Group. "Developers will gain access to wireless market opportunities and will be able to offer enhancements to their existing customer base. For the end- user, the opening of these interfaces will provide the flexibility to choose from a wide range of compatible application and device products as well as an assurance that their investment will work on any networks represented by the Worldwide Wireless Data Networks Operators Group." "The Network operators using Motorola's DataTAC technology view this as an important step in the evolution of wireless data," said Brian Salisbury, President and COO of Bell-ARDIS, and Chairman of the Network Operators Group. "Open standards have repeatedly proven valuable in the computing and communications worlds. With these two worlds converging, the importance of these open standards is further increased. As a unified group, the Network Operators look forward to supporting Motorola's new standards and working closely with software and device developers to bring the power of portable wireless computing to a worldwide market."
The first interface is between the host application and the wireless data network. Motorola will provide its Standard Context Routing interface which provides a feature-rich method for device addressing, message delivery and unattended acknowledgement on networks using the DataTAC system.
The second interface is between the user device (e.g. laptop, palmtop, PDAs) and the wireless radio packet modem which communicates over the air to the network. Motorola has developed two standard modes of operation for this interface: Native Mode and Generic Transparent Mode.
Native mode is specifically designed to provide full management of the interface between wireless modems and the attached intelligent devices by the application developer.
Generic Transparent Mode is an enhanced version of the 'Hayes-like' modem interface for RF data systems that has been available since the implementation of DataTAC. It enables an easy to use, wireless connection to laptops and other computing devices and applications.
This announcement complements Motorola's opening of the Radio Data- Link Access Protocol (RD-LAP) transmission protocol in 1992. The RD-LAP protocol documents the over-the-air message delivery techniques for developers of RF modems.
The Worldwide Wireless Data Networks Operators, an affiliation of major wireless data networks in the United States (ARDIS), the United Kingdom (Hutchison Paging and Wireless Data), Hong Kong (Hutchison Mobile Data), Canada (Bell-ARDIS) and Germany (Modacom), offers wireless radio packet data services to a population of over 400 million potential users. The goal of the Network Operators Group is to promote wireless communications and connectivity standards.
germany's Modacom Public Data Network moves from test to Full- Service Wireless Data System As of June 1, 1993, Deutsche Bundespost began rolling-out the next phase of Modacom, their Germany-wide wireless data network using Motorola's DataTAC wireless information system.
Deutsche Bundespost will have invested approximately $150 million US in the network (which includes 900 base stations) by the time it is completed. A minimum of 250,000 subscribers are expected by the year 2000.
Since February 1992, Modacom has been operational on a trial basis in the Rhein-Ruhr area in central Germany. The test area expanded to include the more important industrial areas of Germany, and now with full roll-out, 80% of the country will be covered by the end of 1995.
Modacom is a public wireless network developed specifically for packet-switched data transmission in the commercial sector. Data communications is more accurate, reliable, and economical than other types of networks such as cellular or voice radio. The Modacom system offers such features as real-time confirmation of transmitted messages, and extremely fast transmission times (9.6 kbps).
"The Modacom network offers high data security and real time access to critical information databases," explains Dieter Schumacher, product manager for Modacom. "Transmission speed at 9.6 kbps is very fast. For professional users that transmit wireless data, the radio data network is both reliable and economical."
This type of network is ideal for companies that require frequent, fast and reliable transmission of information for applications such as messaging, dispatching, remote data base access, reporting, and E-mail. Modacom's target customers include transportation (fleet management), field service, telemetry, field sales, corporate (E- mail), retail (point-of-sale), and environment protection (for time-critical information).
Modacom allows on-line connectivity to the most common operating systems using the customer's host computer and a radio packet modem. Motorola offers a variety of extremely advanced modems either as standalone products to be used with devices such as laptop computers, or integrated into such terminals as Motorola's new InfoTAC radio packet modem or Motorola's 7100FK terminal.
Toshiba and Motorola have developed a wireless notebook which will communicate on the new Modacom network. Motorola's RPM415i radio packet modem is integrated into the notebook replacing the disk drive, or it is attached externally.
motorola Wireless Data System to play key role in Telecom Australia Public Network Services Motorola's Wireless Data Group today announced that it will provide a public wireless data network system to Telecom Australia. Motorola's DataTAC wireless information system will enable Telecom Australia to offer radio data packet-switched service to its network customers.
The wireless data service will be introduced later this year with an initial implementation in the metropolitan area of Sydney. Motorola's DataTAC system is flexible and will allow Telecom to define the optimal customer solution taking into account the seamless coverage required, the set-up and response times, and the data requirements.
Motorola's technology has been chosen by Telecom because of its 'openness' which allows hardware providers, software developers and system integrators access to Motorola network protocols. This protocol availability will lead to a greater availability of specialized customer applications and equipment.
Telecom's focus will be on developing wireless business applications for specific customer requirements. "Our intention is to offer the customer an end-to-end solution," says Peter Higgins, manager of mobile data for Telecom Australia. "With the flexibility currently offered by public networks, wireless communications solutions can help businesses substantially increase their efficiency and profitability."
Motorola's DataTAC will provide the highest data throughput, 19.2 kbps, currently available for public networks. The packet-switched nature of DataTAC provides the cost-effective transmission of data as well as message delivery notification to ensure delivery. Error correction techniques are used to ensure the integrity and accuracy of data transmitted.
Currently, Motorola's DataTAC system is used by the following public data networks: ARDIS in the U.S., Bell-ARDIS in Canada, Hutchison Paging and Wireless Data in the U.K., HMDL in Hong Kong, and Modacom in Germany.
Telecom Australia's mobile data business will provide both mobile and fixed services that cover vertical and horizontal business applications. Mobile business users can expect E-mail, information services, and database access will serve as a natural extension of their office environment.
Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications and electronic equipment, systems, components and services for worldwide networks. Products include two-way radios, pagers, personal communications systems, cellular telephones and systems, semiconductors, defense and aerospace electronics, automotive and industrial electronics, computers, data communications and information processing and handling equipment. Sales in 1992 were $13.3 billion.
CONTACT:
Motorola Wireless Data Group
Erin Kingston, 604/241-6132