PRESS RELEASE
23 December 1996
Swedish PC Card product opens new wireless communication possibilities

A new mobile system for data communication, a GSM telephone on a standard PCMCIA card, is now being introduced. This opens up the possibility of using GSM technology in a range of industrial applications, such as remote monitoring, alarm systems, supervision and control of transport, and security applications.
The product, V.Dot GSM, is claimed by its manufacturer, PC Card Distribution of Stockholm, Sweden, to be a world first.

In Europe today there are some 15 million GSM telephones, and the number of subscribers is increasing rapidly. A growing proportion is used for data communications, so there is a consequent increase in demand for products which can work simply and efficiently in this area.
‘Companies are standing in line to apply the technology we have developed’, said Hans-Jörgen Henriksson, PC Card Distribution Managing Director. ‘Now, for example, ordinary mobile phones are being used for data communication in automatic systems and metering equipment. This is expensive because they need special modems’.

Runs on portable computer
The V.Dot GSM combines a GSM telephone and interface with a standard PCMCIA card, which means that the whole unit fits into a computer with no cables between any of the components. It is intended for applications such as permanent-use data, fax, or SMS systems. The telephone does not have a keypad or display, but for convenience is controlled from the computer.
‘The range of application is unlimited — or limited only by your imagination’, explained Henriksson, ‘For example, one of these cards combined with a GPS system would allow a transport company to locate and control its trucks anywhere in Europe’.
The V.Dot GSM uses the same transfer rate as in standard GSM telephony (9,600 baud). The built-in battery runs in operational mode for about 1 hour, or for 48 hours on standby, and there is a mains adapter for static locations in industry.

Huge market
The potential market for data-traffic via GSM is huge. According to the journal Mobile Europe, there are currently 15 million GSM telephones in Europe, of which 300,000 are used for data communications. By the year 2000, these figures will probably have increased to 40 million GSM subscribers, with about 30% used for data traffic.
PC Card Distribution Skandinavien AB was founded in 1993. The company develops and markets PC-Card products via distributors and agents throughout the world. The company’s own products are sold under the trade-name V.Dot.
/ins

Caption: The V.Dot GSM combines a telephone and modem with a standard PCMCIA or PC Card for portable computers. It is expected to find wide application in areas such as monitoring and remote control.


For further information please contact:
Hans-Jörgen Henriksson, Managing Director, or
Svante Åhman, Product Manager
PC Card Distribution Skandinavien AB
Anderstorpsvägen 10
S-171 54 SOLNA
Sweden
Tel: +46 8 514 90900
Fax: +46 8 514 90901
e-mail: hj.henriksson@pccard.se
www.pccard.se


PRESS RELEASE
23 December 1996

Business version

Swedish PC Card product
creates new markets
in wireless communication

A new mobile system for data communication, a GSM telephone on a standard PCMCIA card for portable computers, is now being introduced. This opens up the possibility of using GSM technology in a range of industrial applications, such as remote monitoring, alarm systems, supervision and control of transport, and security applications.
The manufacturer, PC Card Distribution of Stockholm, Sweden, claims it is a world first.

In Europe today there are some 15 million GSM telephones, and the number of subscribers is increasing rapidly. A growing proportion is used for data communications, so there is a consequent increase in demand for products which can work simply and efficiently in this area.
‘Companies are standing in line to apply the technology we have developed’, said Hans-Jörgen Henriksson, PC Card Distribution Managing Director. ‘Now, for example, ordinary mobile phones are being used for data communication in automatic systems and metering equipment. This is expensive because they need special modems’.

Can be used as an ordinary telephone
The product, known as V.Dot GSM, can be used with a portable computer because it combines a mobile telephone and battery with a PCMCIA card — the standard card used with portable computers. It works like a conventional GSM telephone, though it has no keypad or display. The built-in software allows it to be used like an ordinary telephone because the buttons are displayed on the computer screen.
‘The range of application is unlimited — or limited only by your imagination’, explained Henriksson, ‘But this system would for instance allow a transport company to locate and control its trucks anywhere in Europe’.

Huge market
The potential market for data-traffic via GSM is huge. According to the journal Mobile Europe, there are currently 15 million GSM telephones in Europe, of which 300,000 are used for data communications. By the year 2000, these figures will probably have increased to 40 million GSM subscribers, with about 30% used for data traffic.
PC Card Distribution Skandinavien AB was founded in 1993. The company develops and markets PC-Card products via distributors and agents throughout the world. The company’s own products are sold under the trade-name V.Dot.
/ins


Caption: The V.Dot GSM combines a telephone and modem with a standard PCMCIA or PC Card for portable computers. It is expected to find wide application in areas such as monitoring and remote control.






For further information please contact:
Hans-Jörgen Henriksson, Managing Director, or
Svante Åhman, Product Manager
PC Card Distribution Skandinavien AB
Anderstorpsvägen 10
S-171 54 SOLNA
Sweden
Tel: +46 8 514 90900
Fax: +46 8 514 90901
e-mail: hj.henriksson@pccard.se
www.pccard.se