The complete physical-layer-to-media-access-controller (MAC) solution is composed of AMD's PCnetTM-Mobile (Am79C930) single-chip WLAN MAC andHarris' PRISMTM transceiver chipset, knitted together seamlessly with IEEE 802.11-draft protocol firmware and device driver software. The solution is optimized for DSSS and features 1Mbps and 2Mbps data rates.

AMD developed the firmware and PCMCIA device drivers for Microsoft® Windows® 95 and Windows for Workgroups to support the PCnet-Mobile MAC. With the purchase of the PCnet-Mobile device, AMD offers free object code for the 802.11-draft firmware, as well as a royalty-free license to the device drivers' source or object codes. In addition, firmware protocol for the PCnet-Mobile MAC is flash memory upgradable to easily incorporate any revisions made to the 802.11-draft standard before its expected adoption later this year.

"AMD has been a major player in the creation and adoption of the IEEE 802.11 standard. Our full commitment to 802.11, coupled with PCnet-Mobile's flexible architecture, ensure WLAN vendors a virtually no-risk opportunity to take part in this growing market," said Bob Krueger, vice president of AMD's Network Products Division. "Now, together with Harris, we provide a true turnkey solution for wireless LANs, which is a significant step in their development and acceptance worldwide."

"A global standard is vital to wireless LAN market growth," said Chris Henningsen, director of wireless and multimedia marketing at Harris, "and that's why we've actively participated in the definition and adoption of 802.11. In fact, we're very optimistic about many other segments of the wireless communications market and have a roadmap to support higher-data-rate network applications, full-duplex local loop systems, and low-cost home networking."

AMD's PCnet-Mobile Device is Ideal for Many Wireless Applications
With its highly integrated and flexible architecture, the PCnet-Mobile device supports radio frequency--both DSSS and frequency-hopping spread-spectrum (FHSS)--and infrared media interfaces. The device is ideal for a number of emerging and existing horizontal and vertical market applications. Horizontal market applications are those that require in-building mobility of notebook PCs, PDAs or other hand-held computing terminals requiring high data rates. This in-building mobility is achieved through extending an existing wired LAN. Horizontal mobile market applications also offer a cost-effective solution for the small office/home office (SOHO) market by providing an alternative in place of the costly network-grade wiring. Vertical market applications include those in the health care, warehouse and retail management industries.

Harris PRISM' Chipset Complements PCnet-Mobile MAC In January 1996, Harris Semiconductor announced the PRISM chipset, a six-IC matched chipset that provides a complete antenna-to-bitsTM solution, with seamless interface to the PCnet-Mobile device. The PRISM chipset offers a complete radio solution which includes a royalty-free reference design for quick time-to-market. Harris also sells design evaluation kits that include the AMD-Harris chips on a PCMCIA card. Two such kits are available--one for radio system design engineers and the other for network designers.

Pricing and Availability
IEEE 802.11-draft protocol firmware is provided free with the purchase of AMD's PCnet-Mobile MAC (Am79C930). In addition, royalty-free device driver software is available from AMD for immediate delivery as follows:

Windows 95 PCMCIA device driver source code $9,000 Windows 3.1x PCMCIA device driver source code $9,000 Device driver object code $9,000 for all drivers