NEWS - Plextek Promises True 'on-the-move' Global Communications - UK Company Launches Single GPRS + 802.11b PC Card in USA

Plextek's electronics design services include:FPGA design, ESCAN Radar, MMIC design, GPRS design, Communications product design, Microwave design Defence electronics, Electronic product design, RF design, DSP design, Telemetry system, System Integration,Communications system design, Due diligence

Press Release

Plextek Promises True 'on-the-move' Global Communications - UK Company Launches Single GPRS + 802.11b PC Card in USA

The latest in Plextek's Marvel series of technology reference design packages - a PC card giving Tri-band GSM/PCS and IEEE 802.11b wireless connectivity in a single package - will be launched at one of the USA's leading wireless show CTIA Wireless 2002 (18-20 March, Orlando, Florida).

The design package is sure to be of keen interest to the USA market as the tri-band GSM/PCS and 2.4GHz ISM-band coverage will ensure it is compatible with both cellular- and ISM-band allocations throughout the USA and Canada, as well as in Europe.

The PC card, designed in a PCMCIA card format, will fit into any standard Type II slot in a notebook or laptop PC and will support GSM voice and SMS, GPRS high-speed data, and 802.11b connectivity to wireless LANs. Under Plextek's low cost licensing structure (with commercial terms on offer to reduce the up-front cost of entry to this market) the turnkey reference design package will enable manufacturers to rapidly and cost-effectively enter the wireless PC card market. With the addition of a bespoke production test suite, these companies will also be able to move quickly into volume production. The GPRS + 802.11b PC card promises to provide the ultimate solution to wireless applications for laptops, PDAs and Notebooks, enabling true 'on-the-move' access to the internet, e-mail, telephony services, and corporate networks.

The system combines Plextek's RF and baseband reference design with a dual-mode GSM/GPRS protocol stack from TTPCom - a proven combination that has been used in a number of end-user products.

Says Colin Smithers, Managing Director of Plextek: "The cellular/WLAN product, combining GSM/GPRS and 802.11b will be a truly global solution to integrated laptop communications. It will provide unprecedented functionality to integrators in their quest for wireless convergence of WLAN and cellular environments."

CTIA Wireless is the most highly attended wireless tradeshow in the industry where visitors are able to see all the latest innovations in wireless technology from end-user products and lifestyle solutions and applications, to the latest in infrastructure and network equipment.

The Marvel PC card will be on display at Plextek's stand number 3606.

Released 13/03/2002