GO Licenses AppleTalk Networking Software for its New Operating System

January 22, 1991 — Apple Computer Inc. and GO Corp. Tuesday announced that AppleTalk has been licensed by GO for its new pen-based operating system, PenPoint, also announced today. The AppleTalk networking software was licensed from Apple under the AppleTalk Licensing Program.

“With the announcement of AppleTalk support in GO’s PenPoint operating system, the benefits of AppleTalk will be extended to a new class of user,: said Jim Groff, director of networking and communications product marketing for Apple Computer.

“AppleTalk, with its ease of use through automatic self configuration, is uniquely qualified to deliver the dynamic connectivity required by the mobile computer market.”
“Obtaining the AppleTalk license from Apple enables GO to develop additional connectivity solutions to connect Pen-Point machines into AppleTalk networks,” said Robert Carr, vice president of software engineering at GO Corp.

“Over time, PenPoint machines will be able to utilize many of the services that the AppleTalk network system pro-vides, including access to AppleTalk Filing Protocol servers from Apple, Digital, and other networking software providers.”

“GO looks forward to enhancing the AppleTalk support within PenPoint to provide solutions for our customers,” Carr continued. “A significant benefit of AppleTalk for PenPoint users is its ease of use, even in complex network environments. Simplifying network access for our customers is a key goal of the PenPoint operating system.”

The concept of plug-and-play networking has been the focus of AppleTalk since its introduction in 1984. Dynamic Node Addressing, a patented technology in AppleTalk, allows network devices to automatically acquire their own node address at start-up time.

This allows a computer user to easily join an AppleTalk network without contacting a network administrator or per-forming any special configuration tasks.

AppleTalk’s ease-of-use and automatic self configuration makes it particularly well suited for use with mobile computers and wireless connectivity.

AppleTalk is the networking protocol used in Photonics Corp.’s PhotoLink product, a directed infrared link that allows desktop computers to be quickly networked in open office environments without the expense and effort of installing cable.

AppleTalk has also been selected as the networking software in Photonics’ new Infrared Transceiver product, announced today. This new product, designed to be integrated into portable computers, brings the advantages of wireless network-ing to the portable market.

“AppleTalk is the defacto networking standard for mobile computing,” said Gary Hughes, chief executive officer of Photonics. “Our Infrared Transceiver eliminates the need for wires, and AppleTalk’s Dynamic Node Addressing eliminates manual configuration, allowing for true mobility.”

The AppleTalk network system offers users a wide variety of price/performance options because it operates with all major networking hardware standards, including IEEE 802.3 (Ethernet) and IEEE 802.5 (Token-Ring), as well as low-cost LocalTalk.

Because of AppleTalk’s low-cost option, ease of use, and general availability, it has become the defacto standard for sharing network resources such as printers for all types of personal computers. All major vendors of personal computer printers, including Apple, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, QMS, Canon, and others, support LocalTalk on their most popular models of networked printers.

In addition to printer sharing, AppleTalk protocols also support more advanced client-server applications. Electronic mail is available for AppleTalk from numerous companies including Microsoft Corp. and CE Software.

File sharing is available on all of the major network operation systems including NetWare and LAN Manager, and is also available for most minicomputer operating systems including Digital’s VMS and AT&T’s UNIX.

The AppleTalk Licensing Program was introduced in June of 1990, as part of Apple’s goal to extend AppleTalk to all major computing environments. The AppleTalk Licensing Program has made it easier for developers to offer a comprehensive set of AppleTalk-compatible networking services because it makes standard

AppleTalk source code available at a very low cost.
These standard AppleTalk protocols are compatible with the nearly three million AppleTalk nodes installed worldwide today including millions of Macintosh personal computers.
GO Corp., a privately held company headquartered in Foster City, Calif., was founded in 1987 to develop pen-based computing technology.

Note to Editors: Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, and AppleTalk are registered trademarks of Apple Computer Inc. LocalTalk is a trademark of Apple Computer Inc. UNIX is a registered trademark of AT&T. VMS is a trademark of Digital Equipment Corp. PenPoint is a trademark of GO Corp. Photonics, PhotoLink and Infrared Transceiver are trademarks of Photonics Corp. NetWare is a registered trademark of Novell Inc.

CONTACT:
Apple Computer Inc., Cupertino
Brooke Cohan, 408/974-3019
or
GO Corp., Foster City, Calif.
Carol Broadbent, 415/345-7400