Richmond, CA - June 8, 1998 - Keyspan, the leading provider of serial communications cards for PCI-based MacintoshÆ and compatible computers, announced that it will soon release a PCI card which adds two Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports to Macintosh or Windows computers. The Keyspan USB Card provides a low-cost, easy-to-use and reliable way to connect to any USB devices including keyboards, joysticks, scanners, graphics tablets, modems, cameras, and telephony products.
Release of the Keyspan USB Card will coincide with Apple's release of Mac OS 8.5. The card offers dual USB connectors, capable of connecting up to 127 devices. Compatible with current OpenHCI specifications and based on the same USB chipset selected by Apple Computer, the Keyspan USB Card can be used with Windows 98 or with PCI-based Macintosh computers running system 7.6 or higher. The product will be available direct from Keyspan, select resellers, and leading catalogs. Suggested retail pricing will be less than $100.
"Many exciting USB peripherals will be introduced this Fall, said Mike Ridenhour, Keyspan's president. "Our new card provides a simple and affordable way to add connect these peripherals to the installed base of Power Macintosh and Windows computers."
USB provides one standard plug for all peripheral-to-PC connections, supporting simultaneous use, hot-swapping, and daisy chaining of multiple devices from ports on hub peripherals such as keyboards and monitors. USBconnectivity also eliminates the need for separate power supplies for each device as it enables the PC to automatically sense power requirements and distribute electricity to many peripherals.
Keyspan, a division of InnoSys Incorporated, provides communications products for Macintosh and Windows personal computers. Keyspan's products include the SX Serial Card, a low cost serial expansion card and the SMART SERIAL 6, a high speed serial communications which supports T1 data rates.
Editors can reach Keyspan at 510-222-0131 ext. 102 or via email at info@keyspan.com. The Keyspan website is located at http://www.keyspan.com.