Contact:
Kevin Kline
330.655.9000
kevin.kline@quatech.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

QUATECH INTRODUCES HIGHLY-SECURE, LOW-POWER WI-FI MODULES FOR INDUSTRIAL M2M APPLICATIONS
New low-power WI-FI modules provide extended operating temperature range and advanced enterprise class wireless security.

HUDSON, OHIO – November 9, 2010 – Quatech, Inc., a division of DPAC Technologies (OTCBB:  DPAC.OB), and leader in wireless machine-to-machine (M2M) networking solutions, is excited to introduce the industry’s most secure, rugged and reliable  enterprise-class Wi-Fi Networking Modules for original equipment manufacturers.

By combining the Airborne ARM9-based processing platform with the groundbreaking Atheros AR6002 radio, Quatech further extends its industrial-grade Airborne 802.11 module family into the mobile and handheld device space.   The new Airborne Wi-Fi WLNG-DP550 series of embedded modules delivers unsurpassed power efficiency, reducing power consumption by up to 70% in comparison to competitive wireless modules.  Leveraging Quatech’s Airborne PowerSave™ firmware enables OEMs to significantly improve battery life for mobile and handheld Wi-Fi enabled devices.

The new Airborne Wi-Fi modules feature industry-leading radio performance, with substantial improvement in both transmit power and receive sensitivity.  Quatech’s new Airborne SpeedLink™ roaming feature provides enhanced connection reliability, enabling OEM devices to move freely within a wireless network without loss of data or connection.   In combination with a doubling of range performance, Airborne SpeedLink™ roaming makes the WLNG-DP550 series of modules ideally suited to mobile health care and logistics applications.

Unique in the M2M market is Quatech’s Airborne PortFlex™ capability, which enables OEMs to configure communication ports in any combination through software configuration only. Airborne PortFlex™ supports UART, SPI, GPIO, Ethernet and 802.11 interfaces, and provides the ability to independently configure each port. Additionally PortFlex™ provides the ability to use multiple data paths, enabling OEMs to leverage both serial and Ethernet communication ports simultaneously.

While achieving significant advances in wireless performance and power management, Quatech continues its focus on maintaining backwards compatibility to ease technology migration for its OEM customers. The new Quatech Wi-Fi modules are footprint and pin-compatible with their predecessors, dating back to the original introduction of the Airborne product family in 2003. This enables Quatech OEM customers to enhance wireless device performance by integrating the latest Airborne modules, and without making modifications to their existing hardware designs.

The new WLNG-DP550 series of modules maintains Quatech’s longstanding -40 to +85°C operating temperature range to support requirements from industrial, automotive and military markets. As an added benefit, Quatech’s latest modules are designed to be fully compliant with UL94V-0, the classification for fire safety of materials commonly used in electronic products. All Airborne wireless modules come with FCC and Industry Canada modular certification and are pre-tested for ETSI compliance, substantially reducing regulatory approval expenses for OEMs.

Quatech’s Enterprise Class Wi-Fi Modules provide the industry’s most advanced security features. The multi-layered security approach addresses the requirements of Enterprise-class networks and corporate IT departments. These’s advanced security features include wireless security (802.11i / WPA2 Enterprise); network security (EAP authentication and certificate support); built-in firewalls on the Ethernet and WLAN interfaces; secure communications (built-in SSH functionality and fully encrypted data tunnels for secure management and data transfer); and device security (multi-level encryption capability to protect sensitive device configuration data).

Among the Airborne Wi-Fi modules unique security features is the onboard delivery of certificates (PEM, DER, PFX and P12) to the module and management of all authentication processes without requiring interaction from the host. The Enterprise-Class Wi-Fi module family is compliant with FIPS-197, the United States Federal Information Processing Standard for Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).

”The WLNG-DP550 series of modules, with its advanced security support, device integration, superior radio performance and Airborne PowerSave™ features, continues Quatech’s technology leadership in the 802.11 segment of the Machine to Machine market,” stated Steve Runkel, Quatech President and CEO. “Our continued commitment to maintain compatibility at both a hardware and software level with all previous Airborne Wi-Fi modules provides Quatech customers with the confidence of knowing that we will continue to deliver products that meet the most challenging industrial networking requirements with solutions that future proof their product designs.“

Quatech is now sampling its latest Wi-Fi networking modules to qualified OEM customers. Production shipments will begin in the first calendar quarter of 2011. For sales and ordering information on Quatech’s Airborne Enterprise Class Wi-Fi Modules, please visit www.quatech.com
                                                                          
                                                                         #####

About Quatech, Inc.
Quatech delivers high performance device networking and connectivity solutions to help companies improve their bottom line results.  Its products enable reliable machine-to-machine (M2M) communications via secure 802.11 wireless or traditional wired networks, with industrial-grade embedded radios, modules, boards and external device servers, and bridges.  For local and mobile connections, Quatech’s serial adapters provide secure connectivity and port expansion via any interface option. 

Satisfied customers worldwide rely on Quatech’s unique combination of performance and support to improve operations through real-time remote monitoring and control, streamlined systems, and lowest total cost of ownership (TCO).  Quatech markets its products through a global network of distributors, resellers, systems integrators and original equipment manufacturers in the transportation, instrumentation and industrial control, homeland security, medical equipment, and logistics markets. Founded in 1983, Quatech is headquartered in Hudson, Ohio.   Quatech merged with DPAC Technologies (OTCBB:  DPAC) in February 2006.  Information concerning DPAC is filed by DPAC with the SEC and is available on the SEC website, www.sec.gov.  To learn more about Quatech’s complete line of device networking and connectivity solutions, visit www.quatech.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Download .pdf of this press release