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Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS) has formed strategic alliances with Motorola, Inc. and SkyTel Corp. to market a new PCMCIA Type II receiver card. The Noteworthy NewsCard Advanced Information Receiver enables mobile executives to receive and display wireless E-mail messages, receive pages, and retrieve information updates directly to their Toshiba portable computer. The new PCMCIA Type II card enables portable computers running Microsoft Windows software to receive text messages wirelessly through use of The SkyTel System. Using the bundled Windows-based application software, users can also send text messages via modem to SkyTel receivers. As a result, the NewsCard personal wireless communications receiver provides the means to receive correspondence with anyone, from virtually anywhere, at anytime.
| FEATURES |
| Part NumberNW500L |
| Form Factor PCMCIA Type II |
| Suggested Retail Price$249 |
| Bundled SoftwareMobile Express by Teknow |
·Powered by its own AAA battery, the Noteworthy NewsCard does not even have to be in your PC to receive messages. The NewsCard has its own 128k memory
·Flashing status light and/or audible beep notification of message receipt
·Mobile Express application software will provide a log of all messages sent and received; allow you to display, forward, or print received messages; and send messages to other NewsCard users via modem
Immediate notification that an important voice or e-mail message awaits
Receive Stock Quotes, News Headlines, Financial Market Reports, and many more information services via the SkyTel system
Toshibas Noteworthy NewsCard allows users to receive wireless messages from thousands of miles away via the SkyTel satellite messaging system. With the NewsCard you can receive and display wireless e-mail messages, SkyTel information services, and updates to calendars, spreadsheets and databases directly on the screen of your portable computer. And because it is a PCMCIA card, the NewsCard is compatible with virtually any computer with PCMCIA slots. The NewsCard simply plugs into the Type II (5.0mm) PCMCIA slot. It is powered by its own battery allowing receipt of messages even when the card is not plugged into your computer.
Bundled Windows-based messaging software (MobileExpress) allows you to receive text messages wirelessly through the use of the SkyTel system. The software also allows users to send text messages via modem to SkyTel receivers.
The NewsCard personal wireless communications receiver provides the means to receive correspondence with anyone, from virtually anywhere, at any time.
Q1. What applications are there for the NewsCard? Isnt it just a PCMCIA beeper without an LCD?
A1. The Noteworthy NewsCard is much more than a beeper. Although it communicates via the SkyTel system, the NewsCard allows users to seamlessly integrate received messages with their portable computer. Messages can be printed and distributed or even faxed via a fax modem to other interested parties. The NewsCard is not positioned to replace pagers. Doctors on call for emergencies and others who need instantaneous response to the message are not the appropriate customer for the NewsCard.
NewsCard customers are those who require timely notification of information, but are not required to reply within seconds of receiving a message. Instead, they can check their messages every couple of hours to determine which messages require rapid response.
The NewsCard integrates all of the convenience and timeliness of wireless messaging with the power of your portable computer. One useful application is broadcasting the same message to a large group of people. For example, the prime interest rate changes on a daily basis. In the past, field loan officers for financial institutions would log on to the corporate database via modem to download daily interest rates. They would then run an application updating their pricing sheets with the new interest rate information.
Now, with the Noteworthy NewsCard, one person at the corporate office can use the bundled MobileExpress software and a modem to send the updated interest rate information to all field loan officers across the United States in a single broadcast message. The savings in modem connect charges are substantial. Additionally, an independent software vendor could customize the software to automatically update the price sheets with the new data received from corporate headquarters.
Another application for the NewsCard is providing critical messages in a timely manner. There are numerous occasions where field sales personnel could be more productive if they had all of the latest information. Pricing schedules, product specifications, inventory levels, and promotional activities can all be communicated to the entire organization via one person with a modem or a telephone call (800) SKYPAGE.
In the unfortunate instance that an unfavorable but misinformed article discussing your product appears in a nationally distributed publication, the corporate office could draft a response and broadcast it to the organization within minutes. Now your informed sales person is not blind-sided on customer visits by the unexpected news. Instead, they can intelligently address the customers concerns and provide a printed copy of the corporate response to the inaccurate article. Timely information will result in increased sales and stronger customer relations.
Q2. Why did Toshiba choose Teknows MobileExpress application as the bundled software?
A2. Toshiba has worked closely with several application vendors since July 1993 to provide suitable messaging software. Although all of these products were excellent in one way or another, MobileExpress was finally chosen due to the ease of use, rich features, and capability of future migration to more powerful features.
Q3. Can I receive messages with my Noteworthy NewsCard while I am traveling outside the United States?
A3. Unfortunately, there is no common unlicensed frequency throughout the world. Therefore, frequencies that are available for wireless transmissions in the United States may be licensed frequencies controlled by the local government in other countries. The Noteworthy NewsCard frequency is available in North America and several additional countries. Please contact SkyTel regarding detailed information for specific countries.
Q4. Is the Noteworthy NewsCard compatible with other portable computers?
A4. Yes, the NewsCard has been tested with SystemSoft and Phoenix Card & Socket Services software. Most computer manufactures ship their portable computers with software from one of these two companies. The NewsCard is PCMCIA compliant and will therefore be compatible with virtually any computer that has PCMCIA Type II or larger slots.
Q5. Can I subscribe to a service provider other than SkyTel with my Noteworthy NewsCard?
A5. No. The Noteworthy NewsCard is pre-programmed to receive the SkyTel transmission frequency.
Q6. Can the NewsCard receive messages while I am inside an airplane?
A6. Reception of wireless transmissions is poor when you are in a sealed airplane. SkyTel provides a service for re-broadcast of your messages for a previous time period. Call SkyTel after an extended flight and they will re-transmit any messages you may have missed during your travel time.
Q7. Can I receive a spreadsheet or word processing file over the SkyTel network?
A7. Not currently; however, service providers such as SkyTel are researching data compression and error correction methods in an attempt to allow 8 bit binary over the paging network. Messages are currently transmitted in 7 bit format transmission (no graphics, executables, or formatted documents). However, software developers are writing programs that allow spreadsheet or database programs to automatically update specific fields upon receipt of a wireless message containing the updated information.
·AAA battery poweredbatteries are easy and inexpensive to replacedoes not have to be powered by a host PC to receive messages
·Flashing status light and/or audible beep notification of message receipt
·Bundled MobileExpress application software:
ŜProvides a log of messages sent and received
ŜAllows you to display, forward, or print received messages
ŜEnables you to send messages to other NewsCard and alphanumeric pagers via modem
·Network connectivity through Internet and X.400 gateway allow a message to be launched directly from conventional e-mail packages providing immediate notification of important e-mail messages
·Receives stock quotes, news headlines, financial market updates, and many other information services via the SkyTel system
Service Cost (please check with SkyTel for updated pricing):
¨Nationwide alphanumeric: $64.00
¨Two region alphanumeric: $49.00
¨Regional alphanumeric: $44.00
¨MetroPlus: $44.00
¨Zonal: $29.00
¨Local: $19.95
(Reuters News is included with all standard service)
·Frequency range: 929 - 932 MHz
·Paging sensitivity (POCSAG): 5µV/M@512, 7µV/M@1200, 11µV/M@2400 (standalone or inserted in host PC)
·Channel spacing: 25KHz
·EIA selectivity: 70db@ħ25KHz
·Spur and image rejection: 40db below carrier
·OSC Stability: 2.5ppm
·Battery life: Up to 650 hours (standalone or inserted in host PC)
·Memory size: 128 Kbtyes total
·Message size: Receiver unlimited, up to available memoryservice provider may limit size of single transmission
·Addresses: 8 normal (single frame mode), 16 dual frame mode, 512 extended address capability
·Address functions: Tone only, numeric (4 bit), alphanumeric TAP (7 bit), binary data (8 bit)
·Dimensions:
àBase: 5 x 54 x 88.6 mm
àExtension: 15 x 54 x 27.9 mm
·Weight: 2.2 oz. (62.2g)
Product specifications for various Toshiba and Noteworthy PCMCIA cards can be obtained using the Toshiba AutoFax system at (714)583-3800.