Intersil Corporation (Nasdaq:ISIL), the world's leading developer of silicon technology for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), today announced that Z-Com's Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) compliant Compact Flash(R) (CF) WLAN cards based on Intersil's PRISM(R) technology have been optimized for Casio's new Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) products. The new line of CASSIOPEIAs(R) and their enhanced new features are the perfect tool for wireless connectivity using Z-Com's CF WLAN card.
Z-Com's PRISM-based LANEscape(TM) WLAN cards for the CASSIOPEIA PDAs and Sub-Notebooks are the latest peripheral items, a new generation of rugged computing appliances optimized for harsh working environments such as construction sites. Z-Com's XI-800 and XI-825 CF WLAN cards -- based on Intersil's PRISM II and PRISM 2.5 chip sets --provides CASSIOPEIA notebook and select PDA users complete mobility while maintaining connectivity to a wired network via an access point.
"It's exciting to see Z-Com's PRISM-based Compact Flash card being utilized by a market leader such as Casio to deliver Wi-Fi wireless capability in ever-smaller devices such as PDAs and sub-notebook handheld devices," said Larry Ciaccia, vice president and general manager for Intersil's Wireless Networking Business. "The new CASSIOPEIA products further underscore the growing adoption of PRISM and Wi-Fi for emerging handheld Internet appliances."
Utilizing Intersil's PRISM 2 and 2.5 chip sets, Z-Com's CF WLAN cards operate in the 2.4 GHz Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band at the IEEE 802.11b-compliant high-data-rate speed of 11 megabits per second (Mbps).
Z-Com's XI-800 is a PRISM 2-based CF card with coverage over 500 feet in an open area, and the XI-825 is PRISM 2.5-based and features an ultra slim form factor. Intersil's PRISM 2.5 wireless networking chip set is optimized for smaller form factors and embedded WLAN applications such as mini-PCI, USB or Compact Flash that are much smaller and are typically installed directly into the system during product assembly.
"Z-Com recognizes the need for high-quality silicon solutions as well as superior end products in order to sustain the high demand for wireless networking devices," said Don Chu, executive vice president at Z-Com. "Intersil's PRISM chip sets provide the most powerful wireless networking solutions available on the market today for manufacturing Wi-Fi wireless devices, enabling Z-Com to quickly develop and bring our CF WLAN cards to major consumer electronics companies such as Casio."
CASSIOPEIA units designed to work with Z-Com's CF WLAN cards include the CASSIOPEIA E-125 and recently announced CASSIOPEIA E-200 series Pocket PCs, the CASSIOPEIA EG-800 series and IT-700 series Corporate and Industrial Pocket PC's, the CASSIOPEIA MPC-206 and 501 series Sub-notebook and the new CASSIOPEIA BE-300, Windows CE Pocket Manager.
Z-Com worked closely with Casio's engineers to provide (IEEE802.11b) compliant wireless Compact Flash (CF) WLAN cards for ease of use in a wireless corporate network environment for the new CASSIOPEIA Pocket Manager BE-300. Priced under $300, the BE-300 includes a 32K color touch screen display and is highly expandable. The BE-300 includes a USB/Serial Connector, a Compact Flash card slot (Type II). It is Casio's first PDA model to feature an optional PC Card unit (Model JK-865PU with a list price of only $159.00) that accepts a variety of expansion PC Card modules including wireless LAN cards and wireless modems. The Pocket Manager series features an open development framework based on Windows CE 3.0 operating system, which provides software developers an easy method to port over popular business applications.
The new CASSIOPEIA units all feature robust business applications for the demanding mobile professional and browser software (modem required-sold separately) for easy Internet access. The EG-800STD, Industrial CASSIOPEIA is a 65,536 Color Palm-size device which uses the new Microsoft Pocket PC operating system and is perfect for many business applications. The EG-800STD can be used with such optional hardware accessories as Bar Code Laser Scanners, Wireless Data Communication Devices or with the Casio Digital Camera Compact Flash Card.
"Casio's CASSIOPEIA PDAs and Sub-Notebooks offer a unique, user-friendly interface and deliver superior wireless connectivity with Windows PCs at price points that encourage widespread consumer adoption," said Gary Schultz, director of marketing for Casio's Mobile Information Products Division. "Z-Com's PRISM-based XI-800 and XI-825 CF WLAN cards have given us the ability to offer our customers reliable, high-speed wireless networking.
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