DataTAC
Encyclopedia
DataTAC is a wireless data network technology originally developed by Motorola
and deployed in the United States as the ARDIS
network. DataTAC was also marketed in the mid-1990s as MobileData by Telecom Australia, and is still used by Bell Mobility
as a paging network in Canada. The first public open and mobile data network using MDI DataTac was found in Hong Kong as Hutchison Mobile Data Limited (a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecom) where public end-to-end data services are provided for enterprises, Fedex, and consumer mobile information services were also offered called MobileQuotes with financial information, news, telebetting and stock data.
DataTac is an open standard for point to point wireless data communications, similar to Mobitex
. Like Mobitex, it is mainly used in vertical market
applications. One of the early DataTac devices was the Newton Messaging Card, a two-way pager connected to a PC card
using the DataTac network. The original BlackBerry
devices, the RIM
850 and 857 also used the DataTac network.
In North America, DataTac is typically deployed in the 800 MHz band. DataTAC was also deployed in the same band by Telecom Australia (now Telstra
).
The DataTAC network runs at speeds up to 19.2 kbit/s, which is not sufficient to handle most of the wireless data applications available today. The network runs 25 kHz channels in the 800 MHz frequency bands. Due to the lower frequency bands that DataTAC uses, in-building coverage is typically better than with newer, higher frequency networks.
Motorola
Motorola, Inc. was an American multinational telecommunications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, which was eventually divided into two independent public companies, Motorola Mobility and Motorola Solutions on January 4, 2011, after losing $4.3 billion from 2007 to 2009...
and deployed in the United States as the ARDIS
Ardis
Ardis is a female first name of Irish and Scottish origin. Its meaning is fervent.-People named Ardis:*Ardis Egan, the founder of Egan Junior High School in Los Altos, California*Ardis Fagerholm , a Swedish pop singer...
network. DataTAC was also marketed in the mid-1990s as MobileData by Telecom Australia, and is still used by Bell Mobility
Bell Mobility
Bell Mobility is a CDMA and HSPA+ based wireless network and the division of Bell Canada which sells wireless services in Canada...
as a paging network in Canada. The first public open and mobile data network using MDI DataTac was found in Hong Kong as Hutchison Mobile Data Limited (a subsidiary of Hutchison Telecom) where public end-to-end data services are provided for enterprises, Fedex, and consumer mobile information services were also offered called MobileQuotes with financial information, news, telebetting and stock data.
DataTac is an open standard for point to point wireless data communications, similar to Mobitex
Mobitex
Mobitex is an OSI based open standard, national public access wireless packet-switched data network. Mobitex puts great emphasis on safety and reliability with its use by military, police, firefighters and ambulance services. Mobitex was developed in the beginning of the 1980s by the Swedish...
. Like Mobitex, it is mainly used in vertical market
Vertical market
A vertical market is a group of similar businesses and customers that engage in trade based on specific and specialized needs. Often, participants in a vertical market are very limited to a subset of a larger industry...
applications. One of the early DataTac devices was the Newton Messaging Card, a two-way pager connected to a PC card
PC card
In computing, PC Card is the form factor of a peripheral interface designed for laptop computers. The PC Card standard was defined and developed by the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association which itself was created by a number of computer industry companies in the United States...
using the DataTac network. The original BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
devices, the RIM
Research In Motion
Research In Motion Limited or RIM is a Canadian multinational telecommunications company headquartered in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada that designs, manufactures and markets wireless solutions for the worldwide mobile communications market...
850 and 857 also used the DataTac network.
In North America, DataTac is typically deployed in the 800 MHz band. DataTAC was also deployed in the same band by Telecom Australia (now Telstra
Telstra
Telstra Corporation Limited is an Australian telecommunications and media company, building and operating telecommunications networks and marketing voice, mobile, internet access and pay television products and services....
).
The DataTAC network runs at speeds up to 19.2 kbit/s, which is not sufficient to handle most of the wireless data applications available today. The network runs 25 kHz channels in the 800 MHz frequency bands. Due to the lower frequency bands that DataTAC uses, in-building coverage is typically better than with newer, higher frequency networks.