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Telecommunications equipment industry

Toshiba Unveils U.S. Support for Wireless Initiatives

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc. (TAIS) has announced its support for Toshiba Corp.'s global wireless initiatives, designed to make the mobile lifestyle a reality. The company has formed a wireless network solutions group to work with strategic partners to provide turnkey wireless solutions to customers. According to the Gartner Group, the wireless data market is poised for explosive growth, expected to increase from three million subscribers in 1999 to 36 million subscribers in 2003.

Key Takeaways:

  • Toshiba's global wireless initiatives involve a strategic consortium of hardware, software, and service partners to develop a wide range of new products and enhance existing ones.
  • The company has formed a wireless business development group in Tokyo, Japan, and a wireless network solutions group in Irvine, California, to work with strategic partners and provide turnkey wireless solutions to customers.
  • Toshiba's wireless products and services will be developed in three different segments: Wide Area Networks (WAN), Local Area Networks (LAN), and Personal Area Networks (PAN).
  • The company has formed alliances with leading infrastructure providers to create a seamless environment for simple and fast communications between notebooks and mobile phones.
  • Toshiba has initiated the first phase of its entry into the LAN environment through its relationship with Wayport Inc. and plans to expand this relationship to deliver comprehensive mobility solutions.
  • The company will introduce a range of new products based on the IEEE 802.11b 11-Mbps wireless LAN standard, including a wireless LAN PC Card and access point, shipping in Q3 2000.
  • Toshiba is also leveraging its expertise in Bluetooth technology to bring a series of new products and services to the personal area network, including a Bluetooth PC Card and software application, available in Q3 2000.
  • The company continues to be the world's leading vendor for portable computers, with 16.2% market share worldwide during the first quarter of 2000, according to International Data Corp.

Statistics:

  • The wireless data market is expected to increase from three million subscribers in 1999 to 36 million subscribers in 2003 (Gartner Group).
  • Toshiba's annual sales are approximately $2.5 billion.
  • The company has more than 300 major subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide.
  • Toshiba Corp. is the eighth-largest computer and electronics company and the world's 26th largest industrial corporation in terms of sales.

Sources:

  • Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc.
  • Gartner Group
  • International Data Corp.
  • Toshiba Corp.
  • Wayport Inc.
  • Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)
  • 3Com
  • Ericsson
  • IBM
  • Intel
  • Lucent
  • Microsoft
  • Motorola
  • Nokia

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