Toshiba Brings First Bluetooth PC Card Solution to Market

IRVINE, Calif.--Sept. 25, 2000-- Toshiba's wireless solution empowers portable computer users to unplug from the restraints of conventional wired computing with a fully integrated Bluetooth PC Card, complete with SPANworks Productivity Software. Delivering tomorrow's technology today, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS), Computer Systems Group (CSG) brings the first fully integrated Bluetooth(TM) 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. 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.

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(R) 133MHz, 64MB RAM, and either Windows(R) 98SE or Windows 98ME.

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.