Wireless CardBus Adapter is suited for portable PCs.

Press Release Summary:



Based on IEEE 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11b WLAN standards, 32-bit 11a/b/g Wireless CardBus Adapter provides secure wireless connectivity for portable PCs. It offers data rates up to 54 Mbps in 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. Offerings include 802.11a/g/b seamless roaming and manual selection mode; dual band diversity antenna; and PCMCIA Type II CardBus. Product offers support for existing WEP encryption as well as for Advanced Encryption Standard security operating at full-line speed.



Original Press Release:



IBM 11a/b/g Wireless CardBus Adapter



At a Glance

The new IBM 11a/b/g Wireless CardBus Adapter provides secure wireless connectivity with maximum flexibility and performance for portable PCs. This 32-bit CardBus adapter is based on three Wireless LAN (WLAN) standards: IEEE 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11b. It offers data rates up to 54 Mbps1 in both 2.4 GHz2 and 5 GHz bands. Features include:

o Data transfer rates of:
- 6 Mbps to 54 Mbps for 802.11a
- 1 Mbps to 54 Mbps for 802.11g
- 1 Mbps to 11 Mbps for 802.11b
o 802.11a, 802.11g, and 802.11b seamless roaming and manual selection mode
o Dual band diversity antenna
o PCMCIA Type II CardBus
o Future support for the new Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security standard3
o Existing WEP encryption supported
o Hardware support for Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) security operating at full-line speed
o Extended Channel Mode (may be enabled by customer where authorized)

For technical support:

o Call the HelpCenter® 800-IBM-SERV (426-7378)
o Request technical information via the Personal Computing Division Web site: www.ibm.com/pc/support

Overview

The IBM 11a/b/g Wireless PC CardBus helps secure wireless transmission of your vital electronic data from unauthorized access. This adapter offers outstanding performance and supports some of the latest wireless security features.

This 32-bit adapter fits easily and conveniently into the PC card slot of your IBM notebook. The adapter supports three wireless LAN (WLAN) protocols:

o 802.11a
o 802.11b
o 802.11g

Its high throughput provides the performance customers require for high-bandwidth applications including:

o Multimedia delivery
o IP telephony
o Large file transfers

The compatibility of the 802.11b and 802.11g WLAN protocols allows you to leverage the large install base of the widely deployed 802.11b technology. It provides speeds up to 54 Mbps when used with an 802.11g or dual band 802.11a/b access point.

Key Prerequisites

Refer to the Hardware Requirements section for a list of supported systems.

Planned Availability Date

July 18, 2003

1 Actual device range and data transfer speed depend upon many factors and are often less than the maximum possible.

2 With 11g-based Access Point.

3 Future support can be obtained via driver download from IBM's service and support Web site.

Additional Information

The tri-mode capability of this adapter enables you to easily transmit on an 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g wireless LAN network. The 802.11a protocol has key attributes including transmission speeds of up to 54 Mbps, eight non-overlapping channels for greater system capacity to support more users, and operates in the less-crowded 5 GHz frequency band.

Flexibility

The new Wireless a/b/g CardBus adapter is an ideal choice if you are on the move in the office or on a campus environment. The adapter will automatically search for the best connection as you roam through different wireless LAN networks, helping to maintain wireless connectivity throughout your wireless network. The adapter can be used at work, home, or public hot-spots without hardware configuration changes.

The adapter helps improve costs of ownership by supporting all three WLAN protocols. Costs are lowered by reducing the need to support multiple environments or reconfigure client devices as users move between them. In addition, existing WLAN investments are protected as the adapter supports low- and high-speed WLAN network devices.

Security

IBM continues to enhance wireless security through both authentication and encryption. The Wireless a/b/g CardBus adapter supports the following security features and standards:

o Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP)
o Future support for the new Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)4
o Advanced Encryption Standard
o 802.1X Authentication

In addition, IBM offers the Embedded Security Subsystem (ESS) on selected ThinkPad® systems. The ESS can be used to augment 802.1x authentication and security, storing authentication credentials such as ID/Password or digital certificates for Transport Layer Security (TLS) networks supported in Windows® XP.

4 Future support can be obtained via driver download from the IBM service and support Web site.

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