Aviter Data Communications Ltd of Perivale, Middlesex has launched its first product, NeTcom, a mobile data communication system to enable real-time, two-way communication between an office computer and mobile workforce through mobile data terminals mounted on vehicle dashboards. Aimed at service oriented industries, NeTcom communicates over cellular or other radio networks. Aviter says NeTcom is compatible with all data-capable networks, including RAM Mobile Data, Paknet, National Bandwidth 3, Groupe Speciale Mobile and Cellnet Mobile Communications Ltd. NeTcom is available in four models. and the 3000 and 4000 models can also be used as portable units where information is input while the units are hand-held and then automatically downloaded when the units are replaced in the vehicle-mounted holster. Messages are automatically time-stamped and configured. All units send and receive messages and have an automatic message store and acknowledgment facility to guarantee reliability, and can also communicate between mobile terminals on different networks, by the use of a host system mailbox. NeTcom can also include card swipe or bar code readers and other input-output devices, an integral or external printer, the ability to send and receive simple graphics such as street maps. Vehicle security is also enhanced as the control centre is notified if any of the doors or windows are interfered with; can track the car to within 50 feet, and automatically immobilises the engine if it is unlawfully entered. Aviter also claims that reconfiguration by the host system of the function keys, screen values and menus takes just 65 seconds and costs 50 pence. All models cost less than UKP1,000 including the radio transmitter; excluding radios, the NeTcom 4000 is UKP900, the 3000 UKP775, the 2000 UKP350 and the 1000 UKP270, with discount on volumes. The basic NeTcom 1000 has a single line back-lit light emitting diode display of up to 16 characters for status display of data received and to be sent. There is the capacity for other input-output devices and global positioning satellite facility. Its 64Kb memory enables it to be used as a black box to format incoming protocols to marry to other devices. The top-of-the-range 4000 has an eight-line liquid crystal display containing up to 42 characters of text per line and graphics, 64 colour-coded keys with a QWERTY keyboard and 10 programmable function keys, 32Kb RAM memory expandable to 20Mb, and integral printer. NeTcom uses a Hitachi Ltd 8A Series microcontroller with a multi-tasking Forth kernel operating system, Hitachi 32Kb Message input-output memory chips and Maxim Networks Ltd and Mitsubishi Electric Corp parts controlling the power and printer respectively. It’s out now.
