Xircom Inc has begun shipping a new family of 33.6Kbps PC Card modem products designed for international communications. Both the CreditCard Ethernet+Modem 33.6 and the CreditCard Modem 33.6 are based around a 16-bit modem architecture incorporating V.34 technology. The CreditCard Ethernet+Modem includes the company’s Performance Series Ethernet technology with Advanced Look-Ahead Pipelining, claimed to increase throughput by as much as 60% over competing systems. It is also, says Xircom, the industry’s only PC Card to offer full-duplex transmission. Other features include Windows-based installation software, Delrina WinFAX Lite and WinComm Lite, and Simple Network Management Protocol agent software. A MiniDock for the CreditCard Ethernet+Modem is designed to simplify set-up and operation by combining both Ethernet and modem cables into a one-piece docking device. The company has launched new GlobalAccess versions of both products, designed for international travellers. CountrySelect software, claims Xircom, can select the appropriate phone company specifications for 13 countries, including tone recognition, impedance selection and calling and answering requirements. Specifications for another 11 countries will be added by January 1997, according to Xircom. The CreditCard Ethernet+Modem 33.6 and CreditCard Modem 33.6 are priced at $320 and $230 respectively.
