Nettech Systems Announces New Release of InstantRF Wireless Connectivity Tools
PRINCETON, N.J. — July 10, 1997 — Nettech Systems announced today that new versions of its award-winning InstantRF family of wireless connectivity tools have been released. Now, Nettech's industry-leading network and device independent APIs support 10 operating systems and 11 mobile data networks, offering mobile application developers an unrivaled blend of flexibility and performance.
This new production release introduces RFMlib v2.6, RFgate v3.1.1 and RFlink 2.3, which include the following major enhancements:
— Support for Windows CE, Psion EPOC and Granite Communications' VideoPad mobile clients.
— Support for RAM Mobile Data USA's Strategic Network, including links to satellite plus host access via the Internet.
— Ability to run as a Windows NT Service.
— New optimizations and enhancements across all devices and networks.
— Additional configuration and troubleshooting capabilities.
"We remain focused on delivering the most comprehensive communications architecture to developers of mobile applications," stated Boris Fridman, President of Nettech Systems. "As a result, we enable our developers to be first to market with the most advanced mobility features on all leading operating systems and networks."
Major Product Enhancements
Additional Operating System Support
Nettech has added support for Windows CE, Psion EPOC and Granite Communications' VideoPad operating systems for mobile clients, allowing developers to extend their wireless applications to the newest and most popular mobile devices. With this new release, Nettech now supports the following operating systems:
Operating System DOS, DOS-DPMI, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows CE, OS/2, Psion EPOC, Granite Communications' VideoPad, Symbol PDT 3000 Series, plus all standard rugged hand-held computers from Itronix, Norand, Symbol, Telxon and many others.
Additional Network Support Including RAM Mobile Data USA's Strategic Network
RAM's Strategic Network combines its Mobitex-based wireless network with links to satellite and other complementary networks, and will offer host access to RAM's network via the Internet. For satellite, InstantRF interfaces with a transceiver for Norcom's satellite network. Now, InstantRF's connectivity options include:
Mobile Networks: Ardis, CDPD, DataTAC 5000 (found in Pacific-Rim), DataTAC 6000 (found in Germany), RAM Mobile Data/Mobitex (found in 18 countries), Norcom Networks (satellite), Ericsson EDACS, Motorola RNC, Circuit-Switched (wireline dial-up, cellular, GSM, PCS), standard LANs and wireless LANs.
Windows NT Services
RFgate and RFlink can now be installed as a Windows NT Service, enabling these products to be tightly coupled with the NT operating system. As a result, RFgate and RFlink can be launched automatically by Windows NT, making these products more suitable for unattended operation and improving server security.
Expanded Configuration and Troubleshooting Capabilities
Several new features have been added to further simplify InstantRF integration and management:
— System parameters can now be directly modified by the mobile application.
— Dynamic switching between mobile networks has been simplified.
— Extended error codes offer more details of failure conditions for more powerful troubleshooting.
— Expanded script processing for CDPD and Circuit-Switched Cellular networks gives greater control over connection management.
Customer Reaction
"RFMlib enabled us to quickly develop a highly efficient version of WyndMail for Windows CE," said Bob Kimball, Chief Technology Officer, Wynd Communications. "Using Nettech technology lets us focus on the areas where we can add the most value for mobile professionals."
"We use all the Nettech products — RFMlib, RFgate and RFlink — over ARDIS, RAM and wireline networks on DOS-DPMI, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT and OS/2 operating systems," said Bob Fogler, Sr. Project Manager, Astea International, a leading supplier of field management software. "A growing list of our customers run our Dispatch-1 package over multiple-networks, including Siemens Business Communication Systems, Inc. with over 1200 mobile users. Without InstantRF, we could not keep pace with our customers' demanding mobile communications needs."
"We knew little about wireless communications or CDPD when we first looked into developing our wireless service dispatch application," said Thomas G. McBride, Vice President, Burns and McBride Energy, Inc., a heating oil company serving 10,000 homes in Newcastle County, Delaware. "With the combined help of Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile and Nettech, we were able to quickly develop and deploy an incredibly efficient mobile solution. With RFlink, our monthly airtime bill is around $15 per month per mobile. We could not have achieved this with a basic TCP/IP stack."
"RFMlib forms the basis of RAM UK's Responder, Despatcher and RAMlink family of products. We have also distributed RFMlib and RFgate Software Development Kits through our Developer Program since 1993," stated Nick McLean, Manager of Product Marketing, RAM Mobile Data UK, Ltd. "Nettech's support for Psion is enabling us to extend our solutions to a key device in our market."
InstantRF Mobile Communication Tools
InstantRF is comprised of a comprehensive set of wireless-protocol building blocks and associated network-independent APIs that enable developers to quickly build efficient and reliable mobile applications. The InstantRF family of mobile communication tools includes the three new releases announced today for RFMlib, RFgate and RFlink, plus a fourth product, RFexpress, that will be updated in August:
— RFMlib and RFgate are network-layer APIs that make it easy to send and receive packets of data over mobile networks:
* RFMlib contains the radio and other modem drivers that manage communication on the mobile computer.
* RFgate is a high-capacity agent-based server that manages communication on the host side of wireless and wireline networks.
— RFlink is a mobile transport-layer API and connection-less protocol for reliable transmission of messages of any size. Unlike TCP/IP and other protocols designed for wire-based communications, RFlink minimizes overhead and adapts automatically to fluctuating radio conditions. The RFlink layer embeds the network-layer services of RFMlib and RFgate.
— RFexpress is an advanced mobile message queuing product that enhances the reliable transport services of RFlink with additional mobile-oriented features, including store-and-forward messaging, automatic roaming between wireless and wireline networks, integrated mobile "push" and data synchronization technologies and a powerful developer's kit.
Nettech Systems, located in Princeton, N.J., was founded in 1988 to provide mobile connectivity tools to companies who develop, implement and maintain mobile data applications. The company's popular InstantRF software recently won Network Computing Magazine's 1997 Well-Connected Award in the wireless solutions category (see May 1, 1997 issue). InstantRF has established a world-wide customer base of over 20,000 users in 400 companies, representing the leading share of mobile applications. Nettech also offers a full complement of Developer Support Services designed to accelerate the development and deployment of mobile applications. Nettech can be found on the web at www.nettechRF.com.
InstantRF is a registered trademark of Nettech Systems, Inc. Other names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
SOURCE: Nettech Systems
CONTACT:
Tamara Kanoc of Nettech Systems, 609-683-0100, or [email protected]