Sitka’s Mobile Networking Software Connects AT&T’s Hobbit Platform to Local Area Networks

November 16, 1992 — Sitka Corp., a Sun Microsystems Inc., owned company, announced Monday it will provide local area networking soft-ware for products based on AT&T’s Hobbit microprocessor.

By porting Sitka’s mobile connectivity product, PenTOPS, to the Hobbit/PenPoint platform, Sitka will provide users of Hobbit-based personal communicators with built-in access to enterprise network and desktop computer resources.

“The Hobbit microprocessor will open new markets by enabling low-cost, easy-to-use devices that combine computing, e-mail, fax and voice communications in a mobile platform,” said Deborah Triant, Sitka’s president and CEO.

“With Sitka’s mobile networking solution, end-users, developers and OEMs will be able to expand the functionality of the Hobbit platform and bring its potential to local area network environments.”

Based on Sitka’s cross-platform, peer-to-peer networking technology, PenTOPS allows users of Hobbit-based personal communicators to make seamless and robust network connections anytime, anyplace.

PenTOPS is available as a native service in GO Corp.’s PenPoint operating system and is tightly integrated with its intuitive, gesture-based user interface.

The built-in local area networking capabilities of PenTOPS are featured in the EO Personal Communicator 440 and 880, the first personal communicators based on AT&T’s architecture.
“Sitka’s mobile connectivity solution will be a key component in linking the power of the Hobbit processor to the personal computer people use on their desk every day,” said Ahmed Nawaz, senior director of Personal Communication Systems for AT&T Microelectronics.

“With PenTOPS, Hobbit-based personal communicators can take advantage of the resources offered by local area net-working, including shared files, printers and network applications.”

PenTOPS client software was jointly developed with GO Corp. and is used in conjunction with Sitka’s PenCentral server solution.

PenCentral allows PenTOPS clients to connect to DOS-based personal computers via serial port, parallel port, or mo-dem.

With PenCentral, multiple PenTOPS clients can make transparent connections to all drives and printers on the PenCentral server as well as gateway connections to network resources, including those on NetWare and LAN Manager net-works.

Sitka’s connectivity solutions have been adopted by leaders in the mobile computing industry, including IBM, EO, Inc. and GO Corp.

PenTOPS and PenCentral are available now for OEMs developing on the Hobbit/PenPoint platform.

Sitka Corp., a Sun Microsystems Inc.-Owned Business, was founded in 1984 and pioneered the market for cross-platform, peer-to-peer networking products.

The company markets 10NET, MacTOPS, DosTOPS, SunTOPS, PenCentral and PenTOPS software which let users easily share resources among different hardware platforms and operating systems.

Headquartered in Alameda, Calif., Sitka products are available in seven languages and 42 countries worldwide.

Note To Editors: Sitka is a registered trademark of Sitka Corp., a Sun Microsystems Inc.-Owned Business. SitkaTOPS, MacTOPS, DosTOPS, SunTOPS, PenTOPS, PenCentral and OpenTOPS are trademarks of Sitka Corp. 10NET is a registered trademark of Tiara Computer Systems Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

CONTACT:
Sitka Corp., Alameda
Rick Brown, 510/769-2679
or
Blanc & Otus
Jennifer Polanski, 415/546-8080