Toshiba Brings First Bluetooth PC Card Solution to Market

Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS), Computer Systems Group (CSG) brings the first fully integrated Bluetooth PC Card solution to the U.S. market.

Delivering wireless connectivity with the speed and security of a networked environment, Toshiba's PC Card and SPANworks productivity software enable team computing, so users can increase productivity no matter where their work takes them.

Toshiba, one of nine Promoter companies of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) established in 1998, is a driving force behind the development of wireless products and services. Leveraging its industry-leading strengths in mobility, Toshiba is the first company to bring a Bluetooth solution to market.

With Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card and SPANworks software, users up to 100 feet apart can share presentations, send instant messages, transfer documents instantly and exchange business cards automatically.

"As a world leader in mobility solutions, we're able to drive change in the computing industry through our aggressive R & D and exclusive strategic partnerships," said Steve Andler, vice president of marketing, Toshiba CSG. "By being the first to offer a fully integrated Bluetooth solution, we're taking mobile computing to new levels, empowering users to enjoy the freedom and flexibility that a truly mobile lifestyle can bring."

Toshiba's PC Card Solution Pulls the Plug on Conventional Wired Computing
Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card includes SPANworks, the first comprehensive wireless productivity and collaboration software solution for portable computers.

Developed by Toshiba, SPANworks enables a spontaneous, seamless network over two or more portable computers (up to a total of seven) using Toshiba Bluetooth PC Cards. Users can unplug from wired networks and instantly set up a networked team computing environment without a server or established infrastructure.

Whether it's a group meeting in a conference room or students forming a study group, team computing brings the mobile experience to a whole new level. Utilizing SPANworks, electronic business cards can be exchanged at the beginning of a meeting and a slide presentation can be shared among several machines with or without the use of a digital projector.

Files can be transferred to one, a few or the entire group with a simple drag and drop, and users can also trade messages with a friend using the chat messaging application.

Technical Overview
Using short-range wireless radio communication, Bluetooth technology facilitates fast and secure transmission of both voice and data at speeds of up to 1 Mbit/s, which is up to 20 times faster than a standard V.90 modem connection.

Utilizing this revolutionary wireless technology, Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card can be used to connect portable computers, printers, digital cellular phones, PDAs, digital cameras, network access points and other mobile devices to one another and connect to the Internet or a LAN without the need for wires or cables. Many of these products will be available by Q1 2001.

Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card is an extended Type II PC Card with an integrated antenna, which extends from the portable computer's PC Card slot when the card is inserted. The solution is completely software upgradeable and Toshiba will be supporting new features in future software revisions. The radio's transmit power is 20dBm, for a range of up to 100 feet (usage may vary). The PC Card includes a Bluetooth software suite and SPANworks, a wireless team computing software application. The Bluetooth PC Card can be used with Toshiba and other brands of notebook PCs that have a Type II PC Card slot and the following minimum configurations: Pentium 133MHz, 64MB RAM, and either Windows(R) 98SE or Windows 98ME.

Pricing, Availability and Warranty
Toshiba's Bluetooth PC Card, including SPANworks software, is currently available for purchase directly from Toshiba's Web site at www.shoptoshiba.com. The current price is $199 and it comes with a one-year warranty.

About Bluetooth Special Interest Group
The Bluetooth wireless technology is set to revolutionize the personal connectivity market by providing freedom from wired connections. It is a specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution providing links between mobile computers, mobile phones and other portable handheld devices, and connectivity to the Internet.

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing, and network industries, is driving development of the technology and bringing it to market. The Bluetooth SIG includes promoter companies 3Com, Ericsson, IBM, Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, and more than 2,000 Adopter/Associate member companies.

About SPANworks
SPANworks Inc. is a joint venture with Toshiba Corp. chartered to further develop and sub-license Toshiba's SPAN connectivity software technologies for short-range wireless. Headquartered in San Ramon, Calif., SPANworks Inc. has the only announced "multi-point" middleware that spontaneously links two or more computers simultaneously without any user setup.

This enables users to focus on sharing notes, slides or files with no concern for the actual connection. SPANworks promises future versions that will link other platforms like Palm, Apple or Pocket PC. Another enhancement will provide an easy-to-use interface for developers to write custom software that employs the multi-link engine.

For additional information visit the Web site at www.spanworks.com.

About Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.
Toshiba continues to be the world's leading vendor for portable computers with 14.2 percent market share worldwide during the second quarter of 2000, according to International Data Corp. The company offers portable, desktop, projector and server computing solutions for business customers under the Toshiba brand name.

For more information, call 1-800-TOSHIBA or visit the company's Web site at www.computers.toshiba.com.

Source: Toshiba