The wireless world of data communications has taken another step closer to becoming a part of everyday working life with the announcement that Digital and Motorola will support a wireless Internet solution, initially available only in Singapore and Hong Kong. The system is dubbed 'Business-On-Demand' in an attempt to emphasise its ease of use and the business aspects of the partnership. The user does not connect a laptop computer to a mobile phone and access another computer, as one might expect. Instead, the Motorola max wireless data service uses packets of 512 bytes of secure data, making it safe both in terms of prying eyes and data integrity. If the battery goes down or the connection is in any way broken, the user can simply re-connect and continue. For Digital's part, they are taking care of the networking aspect of the system. Edmund Reilly, vice-president and division general manager for Motorola Asia-Pacific, said: 'The business-on-demand partnership between Motorola, AirCommunications and Digital Equipment marks our first significant alliance with a strong IT partner with an equal strength in networking and consultancy services.' Don King, director of enterprise networks and platform technologies for Asia Pacific at Digital, said the system would be ideal for salesmen, journalists and anyone else who needed to be on the road but still had access to a network and all its available services. 'You could be on assignment in Singapore . . . and connect back to your host e-mail and Internet system simply by turning on your laptop PC.' Mr King said he was certain employment trends would provide for the product's success.
