Sierra Wireless signs supply agreement with Bell Mobility

Under a new supply agreement, Sierra Wireless, Inc. will deliver the AirCard 510, a wireless PC Card modem based on CDMA technology to Bell Mobility. The modem will be commercially available through Bell Mobility in March 2001, marking the deployment of the first wireless CDMA PC Card technology in Canada.

The AirCard 510 allows companies to extend corporate applications to their mobile workforce by providing wireless access to corporate databases and intranets, in addition to the Internet. The combination of Bell Mobility's CDMA wireless technology with the AirCard 510 will also offer mobile users simpler and more convenient wireless connectivity to their laptop computers and PDA/handheld devices anytime, anywhere in Bell Mobility's digital PCS coverage area, which will soon be accessible to approximately 95% of the population in its existing operating territory in Ontario and Quebec.

The agreement also includes plans for collaboration on future AirCards based on CDMA2000 technology, also known as 1xRTT. CDMA2000 is a high speed, next-generation wireless technology that allows mobile users to access the Internet and corporate enterprise applications at speeds of up to 144 kb/s—four to five times faster than typical dial-up access.

"We are pleased to team with Sierra Wireless to offer another Canadian first in wireless data services to our corporate customers," said Pierre Blouin, president and CEO of Bell Mobility. "The 510 Aircard supports Bell Mobility's goal of empowering Canadian business by offering its growing mobile workforce leading-edge wireless devices and services that provide quick, reliable access to critical, time-sensitive corporate information."

Source: Sierra Wireless
With contributions by Ellen Jensen, Managing Editor