--Eicon Technology has introduced an Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN) card that lets PC users access remote computing resources over standard telephone lines as if they were directly connected to local-area networks. A PCMCIA version of the card provides the first-ever ISDN connection between laptop PCs and Windows NT servers. Eicon's new Diva card family has an ISDN Basic Rate Interface (BRI) port that allows telecommuters and mobile workers to communicate using IP, IPX or PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) to peer workstations, remote networks, SNA mainframes, fax services, on-line services and the global Internet. Most Popular 13 Job Interview Mistakes To Avoid 5 Regular Mistakes In Public Speaking 3 Questions No Job Seeker Ever Wants To Be Asked? 10 Jobs That Pay $30 An Hour Business Plan Sample Available in versions for both desktop systems (ISA bus) and laptops (PCMCIA Type II bus), the Diva card operates in PCs running the DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows for Workgroups, Windows NT Workstation and Windows 95 operating systems. Interop Demo: PCMCIA to Windows NT via ISDN The Diva card is being demonstrated in Atlanta at this week's Networld+Interop conference in cooperation with Bay Networks. A PCMCIA Diva card installed in a Windows 95 laptop computer in Bay's exhibit booth will connect to a remote NT server via ISDN, showing that mobile users can for the first time enjoy the NT server connectivity advantages previously limited to desktop users. A standard multi-link PPP connection will be used to "bond" the two ISDN 64-Kbps B channels to achieve bandwidth of 128 Kbps (uncompressed). Jeff Paine, Eicon's vice president of marketing for the Americas, said, "As remote users of NT, Windows, Windows 95 and Novell PCs grow more comfortable navigating networks and the Web, they get used to having animations, video clips, music and high-resolution graphics at their fingertips. Soon they will tolerate nothing less than a bonded 128-Kbps ISDN connection. With the Diva cards, a small office user or telecommuter can establish a remote connection, download a 50-page document and shut down the line in the same amount of time it typically takes a fast modem just to bring up its connection." Using integrated Microsoft Remote Access Server (RAS) drivers, the Diva card can communicate directly with server-integrated ISDN Primary Rate Interface (PRI) and BRI routers such as Eicon's PacketBlaster cards and Multiservice Access Cards. Alternatively, it can reach remote LANs via ISDN PPP or HDLC links to stand-alone ISDN routers from Bay, Cisco, Ascend, and other RFC 1331-compliant routers. When used with a TCP/IP protocol stack, the card is ideal for connection across ISDN to an Internet service provider. Connections to X.25 networks are supported across the card's B and D channels. DSP Chip Provides Single-Interrupt Packet Handling An on-board 40-MIPS, 10-MHz digital signal processor chip provides fast, flexible handling of layer 1 (ISDN D channel) protocols. Able to process data packets within a single interrupt, the chip prevents retransmissions, enabling the card to use the full transmission capability of the two ISDN B channels. The DSP chip's software can be downloaded and upgraded for easy migration to new technologies. Integral fax software allows the Diva card to communicate with analog group 3 fax devices. This, along with its ability to intelligently adapt to speeds under 64 Kbps, enables the card to mix analog and digital communication. A "toll saver" feature can be configured to automatically disconnect the Diva card's physical ISDN connection after a user-specified period of inactivity, while maintaining a logical link with the destination. The Diva card will be available with drivers for Windows 95, Windows NT, Windows 3.x and NetWare Connect 2.0, and provides a number of application programming interfaces (APIs), including CAPI 1.1 and 2.0. Pricing/Availability Available in fourth quarter 1995, the Diva card is priced at $595 for the ISA bus version and $695 for the PCMCIA version. The card is certified for ISDN connection worldwide; contact local Eicon offices for specific country information. Eicon Technology is a worldwide provider of desktop and server integrated remote networking solutions. The company develops, markets and supports hardware and software allowing personal computers to access corporate internetworks, IBM SNA networks, and on-line information services from a wide range of industry-standard platforms and operating environments. Eicon Technology is traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange and Montreal Exchange under the symbol EIC.
