Xircom Launches Family of Bluetooth Wireless Access Products

Bluetooth Product Line from Xircom Provides Simple and Seamless Interaction Between Mobile Devices, Offers Users Choice in Form Factor

Xircom(R), an Intel(R) company and the leading provider of mobile information access solutions, today announced a complete line of Bluetooth(TM) access products that provide wireless synchronization between devices within a personal-area network (PAN).

Xircom will offer mobile professionals a breadth of Bluetooth access solutions within its popular product lines including the RealPort2(TM) Integrated PC card and CreditCard(TM) PC card. A USB Adapter model and SpringPort(TM) module for the Handspring(TM) Visor(TM) handheld will also be available later this year.

"Xircom is drawing upon its established expertise in the mobile information access market as one of the first companies to offer its customers a complete line of Bluetooth products," said Sharon Bosse, worldwide product manager for Bluetooth at Xircom. "These products will significantly simplify the lives of mobile professionals by providing cable-free, wireless synchronization of information between Bluetooth-enabled devices."

The Xircom family of Bluetooth products facilitates reliable data transfers between devices within a 32-foot (10m) radius, reducing the time spent connecting and synchronizing mobile devices. Using Xircom Bluetooth access products, mobile professionals can create a wireless PAN that travels with them and their devices, in the office, on the road and at home. Notebook PCs, handheld devices and mobile phones within a PAN workspace emit short-range radio signals that trigger links between Bluetooth devices to seamlessly communicate and synchronize information without cables.

Mobile professionals can use Xircom Bluetooth solutions to wirelessly access corporate networks or the Internet at any time or any place using a notebook computer and a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone. A PAN workspace travels with the user, providing continuous connectivity at the office or home, and ensuring simple synchronization with a desktop PC to transfer files or access wireless-enabled printers. Xircom Bluetooth solutions feature password protected user authentication, frequency hopping technology and 128-bit data encryption to ensure a secure transfer of information between devices.

Bluetooth products from Xircom span the company's line of award-winning mobile access solutions. The products will be available through retailers, valued-added resellers (VARs), direct marketers, e-tailers and system integrators and online at the ShopXircom(SM) store. Products announced today include:

RealPort2(TM) Integrated PC card

The flexible RealPort2 Integrated PC Card form factor offers integrated connectors that can be used alone or in conjunction with a variety of RealPort2 modules, including Ethernet, 56k modem and ISDN modem. This form factor, with completely integrated antenna, enables Bluetooth users to expand their options as wireless technology matures. The RealPort2 Bluetooth adapter has a suggested retail price of $159 and will be available in April.

CreditCard(TM) PC card

This easy-to-use, high-performance PC card is designed for computers with only one Type II PC card slot. Bluetooth capabilities in this form factor offer mobile professionals a simple, streamlined solution for wireless connectivity. Xircom's Bluetooth CreditCard will be available in May with a suggested retail price of $149.

USB Bluetooth Adapter

The Xircom USB Bluetooth Adapter extends the benefits of wireless communication to both mobile and desktop personal computers. The flexible design makes it easy to connect on the road, or set up on a desktop. All of the benefits of Bluetooth wireless technology can be attained wherever there is a USB port. The module will be available in Q3 2001.

SpringPort(TM) Module for the Handspring(TM) Visor(TM) Handheld

The Xircom SpringPort Bluetooth module fits into the SpringBoard slot of a Handspring Visor handheld, enabling users to synchronize with a PC and communicate with other Bluetooth devices without wires or cables. This module will be available in Q3 2001.

Bluetooth Benefits

-- Eliminates the clutter of cables and expense of cable replacement

-- Provides automatic communication and seamless connections within a radius of 32 feet (10 meters)

-- Enables fast, easy access and data communication, at speeds up to 721 Kbps

-- Offers secure data transmission with built-in authentication and data encryption

-- Features proprietary BlueView(TM) software which streamlines the process of sharing data between devices and provides complete user control for Bluetooth device management

-- Increases employee productivity by providing real-time access to network materials


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