Sony GC79 - Manual (Page 6)

6 Introduction
Introduction
Congratulations and thank you for buying the Sony Ericsson GPRS / Wireless LAN PC Card GC79.
The GC79 is a combined wireless LAN (WLAN) adapter and triple band GSM product that
enables you to communicate wirelessly from your laptop on all five continents, in over one hundred
and sixty countries. As the GC79 provides wireless communications you no longer need to carry
cables, telephone jack converters, chargers and batteries. The GC79 is very simple to install and use;
the software provided allows you to select the best data service available so that the GC79 is always
available for data transfer.
The GC79 enables your laptop PC to:
• Connect to your corporate network
• Browse the Internet
• Send and receive e-mails
• Receive information services in real time
• Access files, databases and discussion groups
• Send and receive SMS text messages
• Edit SIM card entries
Note:
Before using your GC79 you MUST read Important Information on page 60.
The GC79 wireless LAN facilities can be used wherever there are connection “hotspots”. Wireless
LAN hotspots are becoming increasingly common in both public places, such as hotels and airports
(allowing Internet connection), and within offices (providing connections to corporate networks).
The GC79 GSM/GPRS facilities provide almost worldwide portable modem access to the Internet
or to corporate networks.
Hardware Overview
The GC79 is a standard 32 bit type II PC card with a 15mm extension which contains the GSM
and WLAN antennas.
The amount of power drawn from the laptop battery is dependant upon a number of factors including
status, frequency band, distance to GSM base station and number of timeslots used. See Technical
Specifications on page 63 for a general guide to power consumption.
SIM Card
When you subscribe to a mobile network operator, you are issued with a SIM card (Subscriber
Identity Module card). The SIM contains your personal subscriber data. You need a SIM to use
your GC79.