There are Mobitex networks in the following countries:
Australia, Belgium, Canada, Korea, Netherlands, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States.

Mobitex base stations provide communication between the wireless terminals, which may be used in wearable, mobile or fixed applications.

A Mobitex network can be configured in many different ways, from a large public network providing nationwide coverage to a small, privately owned network serving a single company or region.

The basic functionality for a Mobitex network is provided by a number of base stations (BAS) and one or more switches (MX). 



Each base station serves a single radio cell, which may have a diameter of up to 30 km in certain applications. Together, the radio base stations provide an area of coverage and determine the capacity of the network. Wireless devices communicate with the nearest base station but are also able to roam freely between radio cells and from base station to base station as the user changes location.

The MX Switches routes traffic to and from the base stations and provides connections between wireless devices and fixed terminals. Typically, there are many switches in a Mobitex network, possibly organized in a hierarchy of regional and area switches, that are all connected by fixed links. The MX also provides an important gateway function to other networks. In the standard Mobitex configuration, this consists of an X.25 gateway implemented directly in the MX, but a number of other gateway options are available.

A public mobile data network that can provide nationwide coverage typically consists of hundreds of base stations and many switches organized in a hierarchical structure with local and areas switches and usually a national network management center (NCC) as the top node. This type of network typically supports all types of applications and provides both wide geographic coverage and good indoor coverage. In addition to mobile, wearable and fixed applications for vertical markets, many public Mobitex networks offer services for business users and an emerging mass market, such as interactive paging and wireless e-mail.

At the other extreme, a Mobitex system can be configured as a small, privately owned network with only a few base stations and a single Switch. Network administration, which does not require billing or subscription management, is much simpler than in a large public network and can be managed from any location with a PC or web-based application. The network is often owned by a single company or public authority and supports a single application.

Palm VII & Mobitex

Activating the wireless service could not be simpler. When the user raises the Palm VII antenna the unit prompts for billing information, user name, password, and service plan choice, then attempts to connect to the BellSouth Wireless Data network. Once the connection is made, the unit is activated on the Mobitex network, then with the Palm.Net service. Confirmation of activation comes as an email message to the device.

The Palm VII uses Query Applications (PQAs for short) which use the built-in radio and BellSouth Wireless Data's Mobitex network to connect to the Palm.Net service. The unit comes with 13 PQAs already installed, with several more on the enclosed CD. Even more are posted at the Palm.Net site.

These applications allow the user to send and receive email, get real-time traffic information, receive directions between two addresses, check stock prices and other financial information, find the nearest flappentapper (Dutch for automatic teller machine), get the weather, check flight schedules, lookup phone numbers, etc... really an amazing assortment of useful applications, especially considering these are available at the launch of the product. 

Wireless MD has added the Palm VII to its list of devices which can access Wireless MD's interactive medical data retrieval system.

Mobitex Modems:

Ericsson 2100 PCMCIA type III unit designed for use with PC or OEM equipment. PCMCIA parallel interface or optional RS232 serial TTL level interface avalible. Can be used with attached booster battery and ANT or with external power supply and antenna.

  See Ericsson for more info
  See Mobitex for more info