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From: klingspo@mozart.cs.colostate.edu (Steve Klingsporn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Re: Important Petition/Technology
Message-ID: <14144@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU>
Date: 11 Apr 91 08:16:33 GMT
References: <14131@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU> <1991Apr11.034720.26091@uncecs.edu>
Sender: news@ccncsu.ColoState.EDU
Organization: Colorado State University
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First of all, this technology exists.  I can say this much.

Before I continue, I must make a disclaimer.

IN NO WAY DOES WHAT I SAY CONSTITUTE THE OPINIONS OF APPLE COMPUTER, INC.
AS A FORMER AND FUTURE EMPLOYEE OF APPLE COMPUTER, INC.  I AM NOT ALLOWED
TO COMMENT ON UNANNOUNCED PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES, EXCEPT WHERE
PUBLICALLY RELEASED, AND CANNOT REPRESENT APPLE COMPUTER, INC. ON THESE
MATTERS.

Therefore, I cannot answer a lot of your questions.

It will be a free service.

It will not be a service that Apple will dominate, but if you read the
letter, you'll see it's an industry-wide technology.  Whoever does
the hottest stuff with it will get the most sales FROM it, but the
point is not inherently greedy.  Apple wants to change the world and
feed its employees.  Believe it or not, money is not really the
factor in this proposal.  All companies will have an equal chance
in this new arena.  The fact that Apple has some of the brightest
minds in America might indicate that perhaps (again), Apple will come
up with the most seamless/integrated/intuitive use of this technology.
I cannot comment on what I have seen nor heard.

"Other computer makers and trade organizations have joined with Apple in
refining and expanding the concepts of Data-PCS, and are providing commentary
to the FCC about its value and how it should be implemented.  Apple officials
are testifying to Congressional committees and addressing professional
organizations on Data-PCS."

[from the article]

As for error correction, security, and interference issues, these are
being tackled, and will be handled appropriately.  Seeing as radio
waves are merely light, this shall not be a problem, for the speed of
the required error correction will not perceivably slow down transmission
times if such required methods were not implimented.

Asking questions like "Will it work if I'm in a lead room" are kinda
dumb, as I see it. :)

"Apple has
specifically proposed to the FCC that this capability should be available to
ALL computer manufacturers and users, without requiring radio licenses or
having to pay for using the airwaves."

This should answer some questions.

I will make a post on my opinion of personal computing and communication
if anyone so desires.


I'm sorry, but I can't comment on the actual status of the projects that
are under the premise of this technology, but can only state that neither
Apple nor the FCC would go to such lengths if the common questions
couldn't be easily answered.

I'd like you to note that Motorola & IBM are running the ARDIS radio
network nationwide as part of a project -- they use radio modems
("KDT," I believe) developed by Motorola, and all works quite well.

Hope this helps.  I just can't answer some of the questions, as I've
worked for Apple in the past, and will continue to do so in the future.
I must protect Apple's rights and wishes here, for I believe that
secrecy is important.


Regards,

Steve Klingsporn