IBM shows off wireless ThinkPads

Bluetooth access coming in Q4

By Linda Harrison in New York • Get more from this author

Posted in Business, 7th September 2000 14:58 GMT

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IBM will today show off its fresh ThinkPad i series which will allow punters to get online wirelessly.

Big Blue's consumer notebooks will have a standard LAN wireless capability, so there will be no more fiddling around with cables to access the Web - assuming you can get hold of a Bluetooth-enabled modem to do the actual connecting, of course. It also plans to offer PC cards in Q4 that will give othr desktops and notebooks access to Bluetooth technology.

The wireless offerings will be demonstrated at the DEMOmobile conference in Pasadena, California.

The i Series will be the first Intel-based systems to offer integrated 802.11b wireless LAN capabilities, according to IBM. The US computer giant said it was also working with companies such as Wayport and MobileStar to make wireless LAN available via airports and hotels.

"Customers are looking for a way to disconnect from the wall, yet stay connected to their business or the Internet," said Rick McGee, VP mobile brand marketing, IBM Personal Systems Group. "With the first-of-a-kind integrated wireless ThinkPad (1) or the Bluetooth PC Card, growing businesses get easy access to corporate data without a large, complicated investment in network infrastructure."

The ThinkPad I 1300 notebooks will start shipping in early in Q4, with the Bluetooth PC card available from October starting at $189. ®