Mountain View, California-based Telebit Corp has a new 16,800bps modem aimed at providing data links over the cellular network between mobile work forces and their base headquarters (CI No 1,327). The CellBlazer modem links up via a normal cellular phone to the cellular network, allowing the transmission of data from car, truck or other mobile locations with a cellular telephone installed, to micro-, mini- or mainframe computers. Available as an internal personal computer card, rackmount card or an external stand-alone unit, the CellBlazer modem is designed to free field personnel from having to rely on landline telephone outlets to connect modems to the public switched-telephone network. The CellBlazer PC, an internal modem card designed to fit into a full size XT, AT or compatible expansion slot, enables mobile computer users to send and receive large volumes of data over the cellular network. Fully compatible with portable computers from Toshiba, Zenith, NEC, Grid and Compaq, the 4.7 by 13.3 board is aimed at mobile office applications such as remote sales order entry, remote inventory database access, stocking and delivery route automation, remote image-picture verification and on-location insurance claim processing. It is available in the US now, and the list price for the standalone and rackmount versions of the CellBlazer is $1,500; the CellBlazer PC internal modem comes in at $1,300. Expected soon in the UK, it will most likely be distributed through Dowty Communications Plc, which handles Telebit’s Trailblazer range, but didn’t seem to know much about the Cellblazer. Meantime what the fading yuppie fraternity is really looking for is a modem board that fits into the handheld or lap-top computer and includes cellular radio receiver-transmitter and has speaker-microphone as well; of course when digital cellular comes along, modems won’t be needed to send data.
