DPAC Technologies Continues Wireless Product Line Expansion with Airborne Ethernet Bridge Module
GARDEN GROVE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 3, 2004--DPAC Technologies (NASDAQ:DPAC), the market leader in embedded wireless networking solutions, announced today the continued expansion of the Airborne(TM) product line. The Airborne Ethernet Bridge Module, like the recently announced Serial Bridge Module, is designed to simplify the development effort for OEMs that want a wireless connectivity solution. The new Airborne(TM) Ethernet Bridge Module provides an industry standard 10BASE-T interface for OEMs looking to add wireless 802.11 connectivity to products with built-in Ethernet interfaces.
-- Airborne Ethernet Bridge Module simplifies design effort needed to add embedded wireless connectivity to equipment with Ethernet interfaces
-- Follow-on to the Airborne Serial Bridge Module announced previously, DPAC now provides drop-in connectivity solutions for the most common equipment interfaces
-- Ethernet Bridge Reference Design Kit further speeds development by providing complete turnkey design and documentation
"The goal of our product strategy is to simplify the process of adding wireless connectivity to OEM devices and equipment," said Mike Zachan, vice president for DPAC Technologies. "Our WLN module provides a powerful hardware platform which can be used to rapidly deploy OEM-specific firmware to meet the needs of specific device interfaces and applications. With the introduction of our Ethernet Bridge Module we have now used the WLN platform to create drop-in solutions for the two most common interfaces used by OEMs -- serial and Ethernet."
The Airborne Ethernet Bridge Module is an Ethernet-to-802.11b bridge, implemented on DPAC's small form factor Airborne Wireless node module. The Ethernet Bridge Module supports the industry-standard 10BASE-T Ethernet interface protocol and is fully IEEE 802.11b compliant. The Ethernet Bridge Module includes a built-in web server that provides full configuration of the network and wireless communications parameters using a standard web browser. Alternately the module can be configured using host-based code from the embedded command line interface.
The Ethernet Bridge Module is packaged in a compact, 29.6(W) x 40.6(L) x 11.6(H) mm package that connects to the host system via high density, performance connector. The module supports single antenna and dual, diversity antenna operation. As with all Airborne modules, the Ethernet Bridge Module meets industrial temperature specifications (-40 degrees C to +85 degrees C), making it well suited to industrial and other rugged applications.
"Ethernet is the most widely used interface for machine-to-machine device connectivity in the market today," Zachan said. "The machine-to-machine (M2M) market is expected to grow by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27% between now and 2008, according to a study by Wireless Data Research (WDR). Furthermore, factory automation is driving the market for Industrial Ethernet Devices (IEDs) from 2.8million nodes today to over 6million nodes forecasted by 2007, according to a study published by ARC Advisory Group. With our Ethernet Bridge Module we have made it easy for OEMs to convert these Ethernet enabled devices to wireless, 802.11 devices."
To further simplify the OEM design process, DPAC is offering a Reference Design Kit for the Airborne Ethernet Bridge Module. The Reference Design Kit provides the OEM with all of the hardware, software and documentation needed to quickly implement an Ethernet-to-wireless interface with their product. In addition to an Ethernet bridge evaluation board, which the OEM can use for evaluation and application development, the kit includes schematics, BOM and Gerber data.
"Our Reference Design kit provides designers with everything they need to quickly embed 802.11 into an existing Ethernet enabled design," Zachan said.
The Airborne(TM) Ethernet Bridge Module is available now and is priced at $80 in 10K OEM quantities. The Airborne(TM) Ethernet Bridge Reference Design Kit is also available now and is priced at $2,500.
About DPAC Technologies
Located in Garden Grove, California, DPAC Technologies provides embedded wireless networking and connectivity products for machine-to-machine communication applications. DPAC's wireless products are used by major OEMs in the transportation, instrumentation and industrial control, homeland security, medical diagnostics and logistics markets to provide remote data collection and control. The Company's web site address is www.dpactech.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes forward-looking statements, including statements regarding technology development, expansion and business plans that are subject to change, uncertainties and risks. Every statement herein that is not historic in nature is a forward-looking statement for purposes of the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, and therefore results may differ materially from those set forth in these statements. Factors that affect DPAC's business include, but are not limited to, the degree of market acceptance of our existing and planned wireless connectivity products, future business opportunities with these products, the IDA market and prospects for future considerations under this agreement, protection of licensed technology or proprietary rights, risks of litigation, and general market and economic conditions. More information about the risks and challenges faced by DPAC Technologies Corp. is contained in the Securities and Exchange Commission filings made by the Company on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K. DPAC Technologies Corp. specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
Contacts
DPAC Technologies
William M. Stowell, 714-898-0007
William.Stowell@dpactech.com
or
Kim Early, 714-898-0007
Kim.Early@dpactech.com
www.dpactech.com
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