Growth in the market for plug-in communications and other peripheral cards for notebook and handheld computers is widely forecast to be explosive, and Mountain View, California-based Proxim Inc intends to be right in there pitching. Its RangeLAN PCMCIA wireless local network adaptor has been adapted to meet PCMCIA 2.0 specification for Socket and Card Services. The BIOS-level interface, Socket Services, identifies how many sockets are in a computer system and whether one of the credit-card sized PCMCIA devices is installed or absent while the system is powered up. The Card Services interface enables system resources to be allocated automatically, once the presence of the PCMCIA device has been detected by Socket Services. Similarly, if a device is removed, the system resources are released again by Card Services. It also provides an interface to the higher level software that is needed for loading hardware drivers. Compliance with Card and Socket Services and hardware PCMCIA specifications means that PCMCIA devices can be added or removed while the system is powered up. It also means that a system can be automatically reconfigured in terms of memory blocks, input-output ports and interrupt levels. The new software functionality, which resides on RangeLAN’s network operating system driver, will be shipped immediately on the product, with no increase in price – which is currently $600. RangeLAN uses spread spectrum technology to provide communications within a range of up to 800 feet. The company says that most of the popular local network operating systems are supported, including peer-to-peer networks and server-based networks. Other RangeLAN adaptors include RangeLAN/ISA for servers and desktop personal computers ($500), RangeLAN/LT for Compaq Computer Corp portables ($600) and RangeLAN/Parallel for connection to the printer port of any personal computer ($600). In all cases, the wireless network can be quickly and easily set up, promises the company, either to provide a new network or to extend an existing one.
