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Here it is for the history buff or technology museum curator "that acts first" to obtain this key piece of the story. This may be one of those devices you've been looking to add to your collection.

This represents the beginning of wireless data and fax development. This is the first device from Air Communications, it's going way back to early 90's.

The mobile executive. At a pricey $1,495, the wireless peripheral was targeted toward data-intensive mobile computer users: corporate executives and high-level sales and field service teams, who frequently needed to access and send information to their home offices or remote business sites.

This device was purchased directly from Air Communications for our company to use for demonstration purposes. We displayed at cellular industry trade shows to encourage initial corporate evaluations. Meaning this device was only used for display. We just took it out of the original box, took these pictures so you can see the screen and included items. Note most Air Communicators came with nicad batteries, this one has NO battery. We have other ones with vintage batteries for sale (we have more than 1) but most let you turn the device on for only a few minutes or need to be plugged in. You will not be able to use this one because no analog signal and without a battery but the point here is the size and technology story. These were analog AMPS phones.

If your are here looking at this device then you most likely know more about it than we do. It is for the serious collector and it may not be fit for any purpose other than a display example. You decide from the pictures and your knowledge if it is what you have been looking for to compliment your objectives or show in your display.

Air Communications of Sunnyvale, CA, announced an all-in-one wireless voice and data peripheral that attaches to portable ‘386 or ‘486 PCs and Macintosh PowerBook or Duo systems.

Original Press release information:

‘ANYTIME, ANYWHERE’ CAPABILITIES

Called the AirCommunicator, the device resembles a cellular phone but allows mobile computer users to send and receive faxes and electronic mail (with megabyte-size file attachments) and to access online services. In addition to providing fax modem service over traditional phone lines, the AirCommunicator provides data communication services from an individual’s notebook or portable computer wherever a cellular signal is available. When not hooked up to a computer, the AirCommunicator becomes a handheld cellular phone. An RJ-11 jack is built into the device if you want to make a connection over standard phone lines.

The charter of the Air Communications, according to CEO, president and cofounder Kevin Surace, is to enable mobile computer users to have the same communication capabilities on the road as they would in their offices. Through proprietary technology — Surace says the company plans to apply for 14 patents — Air has found a way to transmit data over existing cellular circuits with incredible accuracy.

Surace says Air might support the proposed CDPD protocols for sending and receiving short messages if there is demand among AirCommunicator users; however, he says, he does not expect support of CDPD to be widespread for at least two years.

Snap, crackle, pop. As many of us have experienced first hand, every volume and power shift, static pop or bit of “noise” that occurs between the cell site and the transceiver in a device can create interference during a cellular phone conversation that makes communication difficult. And while human ears typically compensate for the “unreliability” of the connection in a voice call, all of this interference is unacceptable during data transmission, where every character is critical to reliability.

The AirCommunicator, through its AirSpeed audio technology, has improved the quality of signal-to-noise and channel bandwidth to prevent errors before they occur, says Surace. In a beta demonstration of the device, the AirCommunicator transmitted in less than 10 seconds a one-page fax with a graphic over cellular without a hitch.

We offer you more than one high resolution picture so you can see what we have here. As with all these historic "museum pieces", "as is" applies to any (if pictured) box, battery condition, case, manual, any bonus software loaded and or even the device itself. We have buyers who are using our devices to fill in a gap they have in a display or collection, replace or upgrade a piece or take parts for one they already have. Do your home work before you buy and understand we make no claims other than "it is what it is", a rare early piece of wireless data history.

Remember this is one of the earliest device in the SmartPhone evolution. Device like this helped the development of extended battery life, giga bytes of storage, touch screens and high speed wireless evolution such as CDPD, Ardis, GPRS, 4g packet data or wifi connections that are available today. Remember this is also well before a common OS or an App store ;-).

We have other parts of the cellular history such as the Nokia 9000 Communicator, the Air Communicator and even an AT&T eo with cellular module in our reserves. Early pioneer devices like this sold from $900 to over $5000 in the case of the AT&T eo using Pen Point OS (an early iPad;-). You could buy a lot of Gold and Silver contacts and components in those days for $5000). Most of these device taken apart and are gone forever. Don't forget the Apple Newton, Motorola Envoy or Marko. The Sony Magic Link PIC1000 using Magic Cap OS was another early entry in this communicator development.

With all that said please don't buy this, receive what is in the picture and then decide to give US negative feed back on our rating because the device is inferior to an Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy. This is a rare collectors item and when you receive it please give us positive feedback for the decades we have protected this for so you could buy it today :-). Please enjoy sharing this rare example with others so they can appreciate and understand how it helped get us to where we all are today.

If this is not the device you were looking for we have other pieces of history in our store so please before you go, take another minute and view our other items.

STARTUP TEAM HAS HISTORY IN CELLULAR

The technology behind the AirCommunicator is the brainchild of Surace and Arthur Gutch, who together cofounded the company in the fall of 1992. Gutch has eight years in the cellular industry and brought to market one of the first integrated cellular data peripherals as the president and founder of Vital Communications. Surace, who has worked at Seiko-Epson, National Semiconductor and IBM, is considered an expert in advanced device miniaturization. (The AirCommunicator uses more than 500 components, according to Surace.)

A weighty subject. One obvious drawback of the AirCommunicator is its weight. At 16 ounces, it is certainly not a lightweight addition to the briefcase. However, the device does eliminate the need for a pager and/or a cellular phone when traveling. The unit’s weight is almost entirely attributable to its battery. According to Surace, the battery can last up to two-and-a-half hours at full transmission; eight hours in voice-only mode; and 15 hours in standby. A battery charger and power adapter will ship with the device.

Coming to stores near you. Initially, the AirCommunicator, which is expected to hit the retail channel in mid-to-late December, will work with Apple Computer’s PowerBook and Duo systems and with any standard ‘386 or ‘486 computer, such as the HP Omnibook 300, IBM ThinkPad, Compaq Contura and Lite, AST PowerExec, and the Toshiba T4600 and T3300. It can also work with Mac or Windows-based desktop computers. According to Surace, the company is interested in working with additional hardware manufacturers developing personal digital assistants and personal communicators.

Janice Maloney