- Spb Software House Releases Spb Insight - a Full-Text Pocket PC News Reader
- Skweezer Selected by Ask.com for New Ask Mobile Search
- Skweezer Selected by Bloglines to Improve Mobile Experience
- PlanMaker 2006 for Pocket PCs enters public beta test phase
- Spb Software House releases Spb Finance 2.6 with Microsoft Money 2007 synchronization support.
- SoftMaker Office 2006 for Windows released
- New website for PDA Developers
- Spb Software House Releases Spb Diary 2.0
- Demand for Mobile Access to Social Networking Sites Growing
- Skweezer Nominated for Smartphone & Pocket PC Magazine's Best Software Awards
Replace Your Standard PDA Calculator Friday, November 29 2002
Softtrends has announced immediate availability of tApCalc Finance, a handy mobile Financial tape calculator program for Palm OS, Pocket PC, Pocket PC 2002 and Nokia 9200 Series. tApCalc Finance has 25 most commonly used Financial keys for calculating Time Value of Money, Discounted cash flow, Depreciation, Bond Price/Yield in addition to other operator and memory keys normally available with a standard electronic calculator.
The tape functionality makes it possible for the user to save calculations that can be later loaded, edited, calculations redone without reentering all data again, printed or beamed if necessary. With tApCalc Finance on their device, financial professionals with a supported device will no longer have to carry another electronic financial calculator, or a bulky electronic print calculator with them. Casual users can extend the functionality of their PDA calculator beyond the realms of doing simple arithmetic calculations.
Although tApCalc Finance implements the Financial functions as they work in the popular RPN calculator Hp-12C, the key convention used in tApCalc Finance
is standard notation which is followed by 99% of electronic calculators. The use of standard notation drastically reduces the time taken by
standard calculator users to get used to tApCalc
Finance
. Softtrends has priced tApCalc Finance
at $9.95 for Palm OS/Pocket PC devices, and
$14.95 for the Nokia 9200 Series to make it desirable for all users
of the supported devices.
Source: Softtrends
Wizard Shows the Magic of Tracking Thursday, November 28 2002
UTrackSys.com, LLC released the Universal Tracking System version 1.4 for Palm OS. UTS helps you to track any data that is specific for you: time, expenses, calories, body weight, blood tests and many more.
Power and flexible usually mean complex and tangled. Many UTS users write - "It is a very powerful and easy to use tool, once mastered". That is why new feature, UTS Wizard, is intended mainly for newbies. The introduced Wizard will help users create new tracking structures as 1-2-3.
Following the Wizard you can specify whether you will track the time or numeric value; what units do you want to use; if the entered value should be stored as-is or it should be converted into another value with some coefficient; and many other options as well. Each screen contains hints that explain the operations you need to complete.
New feature will allow users to create sophisticated tracking systems in minutes without hard thinking about internal structure of UTS database.
As always, a free trial copy of UTS 1.4 is available at
http://www.utracksys.com/download/utracksys.zip
A free trial copy of UTS (Spanish) 1.4 is available at
http://www.utracksys.com/download/utracksys_es.zip
Source: UTrackSys.com, LLC
Holiday Fun for Your PDA! Thursday, November 28 2002
Get in the Christmas spirit with Xmas2K! Just in time for the holiday season Red Mercury has released an updated version of its holiday classic, Xmas2k, for Palm OS handhelds.
Help Santa deliver gifts on time by playing The Santa Menace game, countdown the days (hours, minutes, seconds) to Christmas with the Christmas Countdown Clock and add a little holiday jingle to your PDA. Santa's helpers can even submit their scores to be listed on the high score page (http://www.red-mercury.com/xmhs/xmhs.html).
Xmas2k runs on all Palm OS handhelds including the new Palm Tungsten T and Sony CLIE NX series.
Xmas2k is free to try. You can purchase the full version at any time for only $5.00(US) at http://www.red-mercury.com. Happy Holidays from everyone at Red Mercury
Source: Red Mercury
HandStory Enables Web Clip Viewing on Palm 5 Thursday, November 28 2002
HandStory, a leading developer of mobile software and services for PDAs, announced today the immediate availability of HandStory Suite 2.2 Patch for Palm OS 5, supporting Palm OS 5 devices such as Palm Tungsten T and Sony Clié NX60, NX70V. HandStory users can download the specific beta version according to their device type at HandStory.com (http://www.handstory.com/product/beta_pos5.html).
To better serve HandStory Suite users, HandStory has quickly responded by releasing the HandStory Palm OS 5 Patch public beta. HandStory will also release HandStory Suite 2.3, the first official release of the full version for the Palm OS 5 Platform next month.
Web Clip Viewing has become one of the critical functions that users take advantage of with their PDAs. With other applications like AvantGo not supporting Palm OS 5, HandStory Palm OS 5 Patch will make Web clip viewing convenient for Palm OS 5 users.
HandStory is the simplest and easiest solution to browse Web Clips, view images, read Docs and eBooks, as well as to read and edit Memos. This five-in-one application can easily transfer images and texts from the Internet to your PDA with the click of a button. HandStory also has a feature that allows users to update Web content (Web Clips) on their PDAs from HandStory’s central clip server through a wireless Internet connection, bypassing the need to synchronize with a desktop or laptop computer. HandStory recently released HandStory Suite 2.2 for Pocket PC extending their service offerings to cover broader mobile audiences.
Source: HandStory
World Book 2003 for Palm Tuesday, November 19 2002
Extending its reach into the digital market, World Book, Inc., has published a concise version of its award-winning 22-volume general reference set for viewing on Palm OS handhelds. Town Compass, LLC has created The World Book Concise Encyclopedia 2003 Palm OS Edition. The 17,000+ entry product operates on the popular Town Compass DataViewer format for Palm OS.
“For almost a century, World Book has been producing the world’s most up-to-date and popular encyclopedias,” said Michael Ross, Executive Vice President and Publisher of World Book. “We partnered with Town Compass to deliver a concise version of The World Book on the Palm devices to extend the reach of this best-selling product. We looked at many possible partners for delivering The World Book on handheld devices. Town Compass provided the most flexibility and speed to market for a product as complex as The World Book on the Palm devices. We were impressed with the product and the dedication of the Town Compass team.”
“Simple, dependable and everything that you want – this is the real deal,” said Eric Makus, President and co-founder of Town Compass. “It does what it’s supposed to do - and that is to provide easy access to a trusted brand of reliable information. Town Compass compressed the opening paragraph of every article in The World Book into this tiny electronic device and offers an extremely positive user experience. In 3 taps, you receive a definitive explanation that you can trust.”
The World Book Encyclopedia is available in print, on CD-ROM, and online, and is widely available in homes, libraries, schools, and businesses around the world. It is the most rigorously updated general encyclopedia on the market. Now a concise version of this unique product is available on handhelds through Town Compass. The World Book Concise Encyclopedia 2003 Palm OS Edition is distributed online via PocketDirectory.com® and on CD-ROM via Topics Entertainment www.Topics-Ent.com. Town Compass will also be releasing the World Book for Palm OS on SD Cards.
People on the go can now have more than 17,000 articles available to them, virtually at their fingertips, with The World Book Concise Encyclopedia 2003 Palm OS Edition for handhelds. Town Compass DataViewer software and reference products are available for download from www.PocketDirectory.com. Users can also download the World Book for Palm OS product at major handheld distribution web sites like www.Handango.com, and others.
Source: Town Compass
Text Entry Speed Contest Going on Right Now Tuesday, November 19 2002
Dom Perignon III Speed Contest - NOV 15 TO DEC 20, 2002
Sponsored by Textware Solutions and Blue Nomad, Quik Sense,
Pocket Informant, Paul Computing, IA Style, and ttools.
HOW FAST CAN YOU TYPE ON YOUR PALM?
You all know how difficult it is to get a fair comparison of
input methods. Any claim is likely to be dismissed as marketing
hype, as it may sometimes be the case. So the idea is to have a
contest where all participants can be measured on the same basis.
DOM PERIGNON II SPEED CONTEST
Just enter the following 40 words with the method of your
choice and record your time:
What you need to do to have a chance to win
the contest is to tap this sentence as fast as you
can without any error. One more thing you need
to have for a valid entry is a witness.
ACCEPTABLE INPUT METHODS ARE:
Obviously, the use of Graffiti shortcuts is not allowed and
neither is the use of word or phrase completion capabilities.
The use of an attached full keyboard is not allowed since the
object of this contest is to compare input methods using pen
input and thumb boards.
For more information, visit: http://www.fitaly.com/domperignon/domperignon3.htm
CONTEST AWARDS
The fastest entry in each category — Palm, Pocket PC, and Thumb —
will be awarded a prestigious bottle of Dom Perignon (the
earliest entry, in case of a tie).
The next 20 best entries get a free copy of FitalyStamp,
FitalyVirtual for the NR70, or the Fitaly Keyboard for the Pocket
PC... winner's choice.
Weekly Awards: At the end of each week — on Nov. 23 and 30, Dec.
7 and 14 — the 20 best entries for the week will be awarded a
free copy of either of:
All participants will have made the demonstration that fast
text-entry is possible on a PDA!
SUBMITTING ENTRIES
Contest entries should be posted on the Dom Perignon III Forum
established for the contest. The message title should start with
the Method & Time, expressed in hundredths of seconds.
http://fitaly.com/board/domper3/index.html
To run the test, use the freeware word game FitalyLetris and submit
a gif image of your score sheet.
The contest ends on December 20, 2002. See the table of current
entries on the Dom Perignon forum.
That's it: You have just about five weeks to show that the real purpose
of HotSync and ActiveSync is to transfer from the PDA to the PC!
Source: Textware Solutions
Silkyboard v3.0 Software Update Tuesday, November 19 2002
Novasib, LLC a leading provider of data input solutions
for Palm OS devices today announced the immediate availability of Silkyboard v3.0 software update.
Silkyboard is a complete data input solution for the PDA. This solution is a screen protective keyboard overlay that allows you to type or use graffiti. It is faster than using Graffiti and better than using the virtual keyboard, which blocks the screen. The keyboard protects the heavily
used portion of the PDA while simplifying data input. Silkyboard has been dubbed the "must have accessory" for Palm OS devices.
The Silkyboard is also the perfect control center for the PDA. It has the fastest application launcher, one tap access to edit functions like, cut, copy, and paste, and quick access to menu commands. Previously, Silkyboard implemented 2 actions on each key, tapping to enter numbers and letters, holding to enter capital letters or punctuations or other commands. The new Silkyboard v3.0 extends this functionality with 4 directional actions on each key. Thus, each key can produce up to 6 different actions instead of just two. This tripled functionality further simplifies and speeds text input. Plus, any of these 6 actions can be customized with the "Redefine" feature. All these commands can be combined into easy to use macros with the Silkyboard Macro Editor. This enables the user to create multi-step commands and avoid routine.
"Our product really has it all," said Jamie Marraccini, Executive Vice President of Novasib. "With the growing base of Palm OS handheld users, we realize the need for real-time text input. Our product is a keyboard, screen protector, and allows the PDA user to create easy to use macros. The end result is a complete PDA solution."
All Palm OS PDA users will benefit from Silkyboard. The PDA writing area is protected - prolonging the life of the PDA screen. The user enjoys the combined benefit of typing on the keyboard and or using graffiti handwriting. It is more convenient than a full size keyboard and more practical than the on screen keyboard, which has to be activated and takes up additional screen space. This is the smallest, lightest, most portable keyboard ever made for Palm.
Silkyboard v3.0 software update is FREE to all registered users. Silkyboard offers a FREE demo of all versions. Silkyboard Standard Edition and Professional Edition are available for purchase starting as low as $14.95. Please see www.silkyboard.com for all information and details.
Novasib addresses the important need for innovative software to simplify PDA use. Their efforts have resulted in software with unparalleled functionality, ease of use, and reliability.
Source: Novasib, LLC
HandStory Suite Pocket PC Edition Now Available Tuesday, November 19 2002
HandStory, a leading developer of mobile software and services for PDAs, today announced the immediate availability of HandStory Suite Pocket PC Edition, the first version of its award-winning multifunction productivity tool for Palm OS/Windows to support Pocket PCs.
HandStory Suite is an easy-to-use, multi-function information software for handheld and PC. HandStory Browser for Pocket PC incorporates multiple features such as a Text/eBook reader, an Image viewer, and a Web Clip browser, all in a single package. HandStory Converter for Windows is a versatile converter of texts, images, and Web information.
With HandStory Converter, the user can convert and save files directly into the extended memory card, such as an SD or a CompactFlash card. If the Pocket PC device is not on the cradle at the time of conversion, HandStory stores the file in a temporary storage space in the PC; the file will be transferred the next time the Pocket PC is on the cradle.
The user can crop and preview an image before converting it with HandStory Converter. This enables the user to select and convert only the portion that he/she wants to save in their Pocket PC. There is no need to use separate graphics editing software.
With the Web clipping feature, use the automatic daily Clip update function to have freshly updated information from the Internet on Pocket PCs. Also, with the wireless Clip update feature incorporated in HandStory Suite 2.2, it's easier than ever to convert and browse any information on the Internet in Pocket PCs.
HandStory Suite 2.2 is available for immediate purchase at online software retailers Handango.com at $19.95 for a single-user license. There is a special promotional discount of 25% for the newly released HandStory Suite Pocket PC Edition and now it is selling at $14.95. A thirty-day trial version of HandStory Suite 2.2 for Pocket PC is also available for download from the HandStory Web site at http://www.handstory.com.
Source: Handstory
New Palm Wireless Email App. for Palm Handhelds Monday, November 18 2002
Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) today announced Palm(TM) VersaMail(TM) wireless email software. With VersaMail, Palm handheld users can send and receive email from up to eight different Internet service providers (ISPs) using any Internet connection from their handheld. VersaMail 2.0 can be used on most handhelds running Palm OS(R) 4.1 or higher and ships with the Palm Tungsten(TM) T and Palm Tungsten W handhelds.
"VersaMail provides a new level of functionality for mobile professionals who need to stay on top of their email," said Steve Janiak, senior product manager at Palm, Inc. "With VersaMail 2.0, we are delivering what matters most to handheld users -- ease of use, flexibility, and support for industry standards."
New Features
-- Multiple Connection Methods -- Support includes the Palm Tungsten T handheld's built-in Bluetooth, the Palm Tungsten W handheld's built-in GSM and GPRS, the Palm Bluetooth Card, IR (infrared) or a physical cable connection to a compatible cell phone, the PalmModem(R)accessory, or an 802.11 sled.
-- Attachments -- VersaMail supports sending and receiving attachments up to 2MB per message. Users can send and receive any file stored on an SD Card or MultiMediaCard expansion card, any Date Book appointments or To Do tasks (vcal files), Address Book contacts (vcard files), Memo Pad documents (text files), Palm applications (prc files) or database files (pdb files). Basic text viewer support for Microsoft Word and HTML documents is included, and VersaMail is image viewing capable (with compatible photo viewing software).
-- HotSync(R) Mail -- VersaMail supports Windows PC HotSync mail directly with a POP or IMAP server. VersaMail also synchronizes with Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, and Eudora. Additional desktop mail sync support includes Lotus Notes 5.0 and integration with DataViz Documents To Go, software that translates Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files into a Palm handheld format.
-- Multiple Email Accounts -- VersaMail allows users to send and receive email from up to eight email accounts, including personal email and IMAP-capable corporate email (may require use of a VPN client, sold separately).
-- Easy to use -- With a simplified, streamlined user interface, VersaMail provides support for high-resolution color, Palm's 5-way navigator and built-in or add-on keyboards
-- VersaMail offers advanced foldering and filtering capabilities, one-tap adding of message senders to the Palm Address Book, numerous deletion options, and many display and sorting preferences.
-- VersaMail supports industry standard protocols: POP, IMAP, APOP and ESMTP.
Pricing and Availability
VersaMail is available as a web download through the Palm Software Connection (software.palm.com) for an estimated U.S. street price of $34.99.
Source: Palm
Fossil Partners With PalmSource for First Palm Powered Wrist Devices Monday, November 18 2002
Fossil, Inc. (Nasdaq: FOSL), a leader and innovator in watch design, development and fashion accessories; and PalmSource, Inc., provider of the world's leading operating system for handhelds and smart phones; today announced that Fossil has licensed the Palm operating system. Through the agreement, Fossil will introduce the world's first Palm Powered(TM) watch called the WRIST PDA with Palm OS(R). Fossil will showcase prototypes of the WRIST PDA with Palm OS this week at COMDEX at Booth #5242 in the Digital Lifestyles exhibition area of the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Fossil's WRIST PDA is the first truly wearable Palm Powered device that provides consumers convenient access to information while on-the-go, in a sleek and compact form factor. The WRIST PDA is fully compatible with the Palm OS platform and will run all Palm OS applications. The lightweight and compact WRIST PDA is a perfect stand-alone or secondary device for Palm Powered consumers.
The Palm OS is known for the power and flexibility of its sophisticated, easy-to-use interface. As the foundation for more than 24 million mobile devices, the Palm OS platform is designed to meet user needs with an open, modular architecture that allows licensees and developers to create innovative new products in a variety of sizes and form factors for both individual or enterprise consumers.
"The flexibility of the Palm OS enables licensees to develop innovative and differentiated products," said David Nagel, president and chief executive officer for PalmSource, Inc. "Fossil's strong reputation in the watch and consumer product markets as well as its strong brand will extend the reach of Palm Powered products to new customers in new markets."
"We believe consumers want the functionality of a handheld with the style and portability of a wrist watch," said Donald R. Brewer, vice president of technology for Fossil. "The Palm OS enables Fossil to provide customers with a fashionable wrist-worn device that is incredibly useful, yet lightweight, small, and powerful."
Fossil also teamed with Flextronics (Nasdaq: FLEX), the leading Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) provider to assist in the development and manufacturing of the WRIST PDA. In addition to being the manufacturer, Flextronics has been a critical partner throughout the development process and has performed the full-turnkey embedded design.
"We are excited to be working on this revolutionary consumer device with Fossil," said Ron Snyder, president of Flextronics Design. "Our strategic relationship will allow Fossil to leverage Flextronics' design capabilities and global manufacturing infrastructure while enhancing their commitment to provide quality, fashionable and innovative products to customers around the world."
The WRIST PDA with Palm OS from Fossil also features an illuminated touch screen with a stylus integrated into the band for Graffiti(TM) input, 2MB internal memory, Rocker(TM) switch user interface, infrared port to support beaming between all Palm Powered devices, rechargeable battery, and loaded applications including: Address Book, Date Book, Memo Pad, Calculator and To Do List.
Fossil will launch the WRIST PDA with Palm OS under two brands, FOSSIL and ABACUS(TM), a new tech brand that targets the electronics distribution. Both versions of the new WRIST PDA are scheduled to be available in stores in the United States and internationally by mid-2003.
Source: Palm
PalmSource: Dell Doesn't Worry Us Tuesday, November 12 2002
The head of PalmSource, the software arm of Palm, has spoken out against a Wintel-based clone model for handheld devices, but he admitted Dell Computer's imminent entry into that market will "have an impact."
PalmSource CEO David Nagel was in London to promote the Palm OS 5 operating system for mobile devices. "Dell certainly will have an impact in the handheld computing market...but mainly because of their distribution and sales (expertise). They will bring Microsoft Pocket PC pricing closer to that of Palm (OS-based devices), but even Dell can't close that gap completely."
PalmSource will soon announce that it is licensing its operating system to several more hardware companies, Nagel said, although he wouldn't be drawn on whether Apple--where Nagel was once head of R&D for the Mac and Mac OS--and Legend, China's largest PC vendor and a key bridgehead into that giant market, are on that roster.
Nagel allowed that some of PalmSource's new licensees will also have signed up to the operating system's two main competitors--Microsoft's Pocket PC and Symbian, which is backed by the major mobile phone makers and mainly used on smart phones.
Though Dell is staying loyal to Microsoft, Nagel said, "There is a reticence (on the part of manufacturers) to commit to a single platform."
While the overall market for PDAs (personal digital assistants) has been flat for a year or more, PalmSource says its share of the market has remained steady and it has by far the most users by units shipped. The PalmSource operating system company is almost completely separated from Palm the hardware company.
Although analysts have said vendors that use the Palm OS must sell less expensive devices to survive--for example, Palm's high-end Tungsten T device, the first to use Palm OS 5, comes in at $499 even if the company also now sells a sub-$100 Zire handheld--Pocket PC-based devices are generally more expensive.
Dell's debut will see Pocket PC-based devices drop below the $300 mark in the United States, but PalmSource's Nagel stressed he believed his company will prosper in spite of this price pressure and in spite of Microsoft, which he said loses money on each Pocket PC device sold.
As reasons, he cited the ease-of-use of Palm software, Palm's commitment to Java, the new OS 5--which supports fast, ARM-based processors, an area where Microsoft has had a lead--and a strong and growing developer community.
Nagel's main message, however, was that Microsoft will back a market of clone, Wintel-based handhelds, whereas Palm is looking at allowing manufacturers to maintain profit margins through various types of specialized devices.
Silicon.com's Tony Hallett reported from London.
Source: News.com
Microsoft to Help With Cheaper PDAs Tuesday, November 12 2002
Microsoft and Samsung on Monday announced they have teamed up to develop a design for low-cost handhelds, a market dominated by rival Palm.
Devices based on the design will use Microsoft's Pocket PC software and Samsung's 200MHz ARM9-based S3C2410 application processor and will have 32MB of memory. The design also calls for a 3.5-inch color or black-and-white display, Secure Digital and SDIO support, and a petite 4.1-inch-by-2.8-inch, 2.9-ounce case.
The announcement with Samsung underscores Microsoft's recent emphasis on the low-end market. The software giant and its hardware partners have traditionally offered devices with advanced features to the corporate market, where prices tend to be in the $500 range. The high end of the market is a smaller segment compared with the low end, but profit margins are larger.
However, prices for components have begun to drop, and Microsoft has signed up more licensees--around 30 so far--that see an opportunity to sell high volumes in the low end of the market. Hardware makers such as Hewlett-Packard and ViewSonic are dipping into the $299 price range, and Dell Computer is set to announce a $199 Pocket PC-based device Nov. 18.
"The last outpost for us is the low-cost category," Microsoft spokesman Ed Suwanjindar said. "A poor customer experience was the only aversion to the low end, but with component costs coming down, we can now offer advanced features for lower prices."
Microsoft said the design is meant to help PDA (personal digital assistant) makers offer lower prices and get the devices to market faster than if they had to develop them on their own. Devices based on the design aren't due out until next year.
Shipments for handhelds dipped 2.4 percent worldwide in the third quarter, according to research firm Dataquest. Devices using the Palm OS accounted for 50.2 percent of the worldwide market in 2002, compared with 28.3 percent for handhelds using Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system.
Semico analyst Tony Massimini said that reference designs give manufacturers a starting point when it comes to building a device. However, it's not historically clear if reference designs spur growth or if growth spurs reference designs. "It's similar to a chicken and egg thing," he said.
Massimini added that Samsung is reducing the number of chips used in the design by combining capabilities into fewer chips, which helps to cut costs.
Samsung representatives were not available for comment.
Microsoft also has design agreements with Texas Instruments and Intel, but those deals are for devices with wireless capabilities.
Source: News.com
Nokia and RIM Sign Software Licensing Agreement Friday, November 8 2002
Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and Research In Motion Limited (RIM) (Nasdaq: RIMM; TSX: RIM) today announced that they have signed a BlackBerry (TM) software licensing agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, RIM has granted Nokia the right to use and distribute certain BlackBerry software in conjunction with Nokia products on a global basis.
"As the world's leading mobile phone manufacturer, we understand the power that mobility and messaging have when combined, especially for corporate customers. By signing this software licensing deal with RIM, we are able to provide another compelling option for mobile professionals to manage their email while on the move," said Erik
Anderson, Senior Vice President, Nokia Mobile Phones.
"We are pleased to partner with a world leader like Nokia to deliver the popular and proven BlackBerry wireless email experience to Nokia's customers. BlackBerry provides a secure and extensible platform that will enable IT departments to easily support Nokia mobile phones," said Jim Balsillie, Chairman and Co-CEO at Research In Motion.
BlackBerry is a leading wireless enterprise platform that has been widely deployed to provide wireless access to information. The BlackBerry architecture supports enterprise requirements including back-end integration, end-to-end security and push-based wireless applications. Thousands of organizations across North America and
Europe already use BlackBerry with expansion beginning in Asia Pacific.
Further details of the non-exclusive licensing agreement between Nokia and RIM were not disclosed.
Source: Nokia
Sendo Chooses Nokia's Series 60 Thursday, November 7 2002
Sendo, a British mobile phone manufacturer, today announced that the company has decided to license Series 60 Platform from Nokia for its smart phone category. The Series 60 is a software platform for feature- and application rich smart phones that Nokia licenses to
mobile handset manufacturers. The platform is optimised to run on top of the Symbian OS. Sendo joins as the newest member to the Series 60 licensing community with Matsushita, Samsung, Siemens and Nokia.
"Earlier this fall we reviewed our smart phone strategy. While our mission of providing customers with feature-rich and ubiquitous devices remains unaltered, seeing that the Series 60 fully embraces both our mission and the new strategy we decided to approach Nokia," said Hugh Brogan, Chief Executive Officer of Sendo Holdings Plc. "The
platform utilises open standards and technologies, such as MMS and Java(TM), jointly developed by the industry. The platform is robust, yet uniquely flexible, bringing great benefits to licensees, operators, developers and consumers."
"We welcome Sendo, a pioneer in smart phone development, to join our Series 60 community. We see that a combination of Sendo's technical expertise and growing market presence will bring significant contribution to the mobile market with Series 60 devices. Interoperable solutions that are built on open and common industry standards are proving to be the winning formula in meeting demands of business users and consumers alike," said Niklas Savander, Vice
President and General Manager, Nokia Mobile Software.
Nokia licenses Series 60 Platform as a source code. The model enables licensees to contribute to the development of the platform while fully executing their individual business strategy, brand and customer requirements in fast developing and highly competitive mobile communications market. Licensees will be able to include the Series 60 into their own smart phone designs, thus speeding up the
rollout of new phone models at lower costs.
The Series 60 is a comprehensive software platform for smart phones, created for mobile phone users that demand easy-to-use, one-hand operated handsets with high-quality colour screens, rich communications and enhanced applications. The Series 60 platform consists of the key telephony and personal information management applications, the browser and messaging clients, as well as a complete and modifiable user interface, all designed to run on top of the Symbian OS, an operating system for advanced, data enabled mobile phones.
Source: Nokia
Dell PDAs to Come in 2 Weeks Thursday, November 7 2002
Dell says it will begin selling handheld devices in mid-November, as long-time PDA makers like Palm and HP wait for the onslaught.
The official unveiling of the company's line of PDAs (personal digital assistants) will come at the Comdex event in Las Vegas on 18 November. Dell said it will begin taking orders from the launch date for its Axim X5 handheld devices, which run on Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system.
Dell has not released a full set of specifications for the new Pocket PCs, but early reports say the high-end Axim X5 will sell for around USD299 and will have a 400MHz Intel StrongArm processor with 64MB of SDRAM. The lower-end unit will go for about USD199 and it comes loaded with a 300MHz StrongArm processor and 32MB of RAM.
Both models have Compact Flash 2 and Secure Digital expansion slots, through which extra memory or wireless connectivity can be added. Dell has also said that in a year's time it hopes to roll out Pocket PCs that will come with integrated Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity.
The news was widely expected, and it comes after Dell announced plans to introduce its own line of printers manufactured by Lexmark, to the dismay of printing giant Hewlett-Packard. As with the printer announcement, Dell's move into the PDA segment could threaten the market position of the industry's leaders, namely Palm and HP. Dell currently sells PDAs made by Palm, Sony, NEC and Casio.
According to the most recent figures from research company IDC, covering the three-month period to June 2002, Palm remains the number one PDA maker globally, controlling about a third of the market. Its operating system, Palm OS, is even more dominant with an almost three-quarters share of the market. The number two device maker is HP, following its merger with Compaq, with an almost 17 percent market share.
Experts are now saying that Dell's well-documented ability to produce, distribute and market products at low prices could cut into the dominance of Palm. "They are really going to shake up the industry," said Andy Brown, IDC's EMEA research manager for mobile computing. "It's going to be really interesting to see what happens."
Brown said that Dell's commoditised approach to selling products, and the incredibly low prices that come with that approach, will be closely watched by other vendors. He predicted that the company would target business users primarily and that a launch in Europe would probably not come until next year.
"They are coming in at that really sweet spot in terms of pricing -- somewhere between $199 and $299," Brown added. "But they are not the only ones doing this. With low cost of memory and relatively low cost of screens, lots of new manufacturers in Asia are starting to pop up... These low-cost devices are likely to spur the market," he said. According to IDC figures, worldwide handheld device shipments declined 9.3 percent from 2.89 million units in Q2 2001 to 2.62 million units in Q2 2002.
Brown warned, however, that Dell's main roadblock in its PDA ambitions could come from the fact that it has no bricks-and-mortar retail operations, where the bulk of consumer and business PDA purchases are made. He also questioned whether the company would be able to provide warranty and business support for the PDAs it sells, since it lacks this physical presence.
© ElectricNews.net
Source: The Register
Tablet PC Niche in 2003 - Gartner Thursday, November 7 2002
Tomorrow, November 7, is as you all know Tablet PC Launch Day. We can expect a raft of form factors and price points from the serried ranks of notebook makers and rebadgers.
But it's going to be a while, at least a year, probably a wee while longer, before the Microsoft-inspired devices hit the mass market. According to those number-crunchers at Gartner Dataquest, Tablet PCs will account for just 1.2 per cent of all worldwide notebook shipments in 2003 - equivalent to 423,000 units.
"Initial interest could cause an early spike in purchasing that will eventually level out," says Leslie Fiering, vice president for Gartner Dataquest. "Outside of the vertical industries, only the bravest will implement Tablet PCs widely toward the end of 2003."
In other words, Tablet PCs will first of all mop up in industries which already use pen-based tablet-style PCs. This is possibly the first time in history - and almost certainly the last - that traffic wardens are volunteered for a brigade of technology early adopters.
But why will initial take-up (beyond the verticals) be so sluggish? Spreading the quotes around, Gartner has the answer, citing "a lack of application support, clumsy hardware designs and a price premium will be barriers for most users," through the mouth of Ken Dulaney, Gartner veep.
Also Gartner anticipates a six-nine month evaluation period for Tablet PCs, even with companies already using pen-based computing devices.
And then what? The future for Tablet PCs is rosy, according to Gartner, which forecasts a sales ramp all the way to 2007, when "at least 35 percent of all notebooks sold will have screen digitizers with a convertible or separable keyboard design".
Source: The Register
The Long Wait for Bluetooth Thursday, November 7 2002
By Andrew Orlowski in San Francisco
There's a huge reality gap if you follow wireless on this continent. Proponents of the CDMA phone system used by the large American networks (and rejected by most of the rest of the world) spend much time boasting about the system's "technical superiority".
At the same time, the handsets and services here lag far behind those on offer even in developing countries. Yesterday's technology abounds: awful, antiquated phones are the norm. You just can't get the coolest toys here unless you opt for one of the GSM networks and when you do, as in California, you're effectively locking yourself into a local monopoly.
Now, apart from a lunatic fringe of right-wing publications and enthusiasts, everybody knows this awful truth. Amps and hertz don't matter as much to the ordinary consumer as much as better handsets and better services, and more choice.
A case in point: Bluetooth is a standard feature on many new GSM/GPRS phones but the first CDMA 1X phone has yet to be launched. We were astonished to learn, after speaking to representatives from Samsung and Kyocera which are launching interesting PalmOS-based smartphones that the industry is waiting on Bluetooth-capable chipsets from Qualcomm. What, just the one supplier?
The following explanation comes from an experienced wireless professional who prefers to remain anonymous.
"Phones here are years behind the rest of the world: have you tried buying a Bluetooth-enabled CDMA 1X phone? You can't. Because there isn't one."
In his analysis of Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly's decision to affirm the DoJ-Microsoft Settlement, Andrew Orlowski makes the point that American protectionism of companies such as Microsoft and Qualcomm ultimately results in the stifling of innovation and competition. He uses the example of the lack of CDMA Bluetooth phones.
Recently, I've been following a few discussion groups where the proponents of CDMA technogies preach the supposed technological superiority of CDMA 1X networks over GPRS networks in North America, and WCDMA elsewhere. They delve deep into specifications to support their arguments and justify the supposed benefits to consumers, and the eventual world-domination of CDMA. It's an interesting mix of technical trivia and heart-felt religious righteousness.
Having spent nine years in Europe, I found it faintly amusing that people would want to spend their time arguing about underlying network technologies, rather than about new services, or new ideas about how to make money from mobile data. You're more likely to be spending time showing off your latest handset, how you can take pictures with it, or what games you can play, to worry about the networks. Are Americans so offended by Asian and European superiority in Wireless, and eager to redress the balance, that they will grasp at any thread that hints of possible "Homeland" supremacy?
If so, arguing about network standards isn't the way to go about it. It was the lack of a common network technology that was largely responsible for turning North America into a wireless backwater in the first place.
So what relevance to this is a Bluetooth-enabled CMDA 1X phone? It seems common sentiment in North America that Bluetooth is a failure: it should have arrived years ago, is buggy, expensive, difficult to configure, etc. There seems to be a feeling that Bluetooth had it's chance, and now 802.11 - a technology where North America could be said to lead - will fill the void. That Bluetooth failed will be news to any European who has been using Bluetooth headsets, car kits, Bluetooth-enabled PDAs, or Bluetooth connections with their laptops, and who first hand understands how uniquely useful and versatile the technology is.
For two years I have been using Bluetooth-enabled GPRS phones and PDAs to access wireless data. My workplace has a variety of Bluetooth devices...GPRS phones, headsets, PDAs, CF Cards, PC Cards, SDIO Cards, USB adapters, access points, etc.. An average of two Bluetooth devices per employee, and climbing. Our business is not Bluetooth, it is mobile data. However, mobile data is where Bluetooth shines.
I recently went looking for a solution to demonstrate our product using a Toshiba e740 (WiFi) PDA and CDMA 1X. (The e740 can manage about an hour of browsing over 802.11b before the battery gives up...less than half what the same PDA with Bluetooth can manage. ) The local CDMA 1X provider offered only two 1X mobile phones, neither of which supported Bluetooth.
Ah well...a USB cable can be purchased for the Samsung N370 for $80, and a port expander with USB is available for the Toshiba. Alas, while you can physically connect the two devices, there are no USB drivers available for Pocket PC for the mobile phone. Nor does the Toshiba support a serial connection. No 1X for Toshiba PDA's then.
Well, maybe we could import a 1X Bluetooth phone. We do this all the time with GPRS... you just swap SIMs. You can sometimes do this with CDMA...if you talk nicely enough to your CDMA operator. It depends on the operator's policy, and how the customer service representative feels that day.
Alas, there are no 1X Bluetooth phones to be had anywhere in the world. Even searching the Bluetooth Qualified Products List (QPL) reveals only one candidate - The Samsung X7700. Samsung hasn't announced this phone yet, and there's no information available on it, where or when it will be launched. The lack of Bluetooth in North America mobile phones is not due to any problems with the technology, it's due to Qualcomm. (Fortunately, in the last month or two Qualcomm has apparently demonstrated in the lab a new chipset that supports 1X and Bluetooth...maybe in a year or so we might actually see a Bluetooth 1X phone on the market.)
Okay, how about an integrated 1X Pocket PC? The Audiovox Thera is available...but if you want to use the device as a phone you must use an earbud and microphone, and you get about 1 hour of talk-time. So Audiovox Thera isn't going to replace an employee's mobile phone, but (because of the lack of a SIM) you will still need to purchase a separate voice and data service for it. Nor can we use a display adapter with it and we like to give presentations directly from PDAs as the Thera has neither CF nor SDIO slots. A Sierra Wireless 1X card? Same issues as the Thera, but more bulky as you need a PC Card adapter (with it's own battery).
The Samsung N370 1X mobile can be connected to an HP/Compaq iPAQ PDA (of which we have many, with integrated Bluetooth, of course) so we decide to use that. Only, you need a different cable, for another $80. So, we have to spend $160 on cables to connect a 1X mobile phone to both a laptop, and a PDA that already has Bluetooth. We've recently been purchasing Bluetooth USB adapters for $60.
Clearly then, 1X data is not a "wireless". The need to use (multiple) cables makes it not even mobile. At best we could cal 1X data portable. Connecting cables makes a mockery of "always connected" technology. The supposed speed advantage of 1X over GPRS is irrelevant if you can't get the data out of the phone. Who uses 1X data, other than for WAP, I wonder? Not consumers, with the degree of difficulty and inconvenience involved. It certainly doesn't seem to be suitable for PDAs. The main application must be corporate users downloading e-mail to their laptops. No wonder limited devices such as those from RIM and Handspring - unsuccessful in Europe - have found a market in North America.
Compare this with the kind of use people are making of PDAs and GPRS mobile phones. I can get my e-mail, browse the web, download applications, and sync my data back to my office. All without taking my phone out of my pocket. Now that the GPRS operators in North America have tri-band phones with Bluetooth (e.g., Nokia 6310i, Sony Ericsson T39m/T68i, etc.), and with devices such as HP's iPAQ 3870/3970, Palm's Tungsten T, North Americans can finally begin to experience Bluetooth for themselves. They won't be doing it over CDMA 1X, however.
Consumers will not make their choice of network operator based on the underlying network technology. Their choices are influenced heavily by the the appeal, popularity and price of handsets and services. CMDA continues to lag in these areas, and there are no signs of the situation improving. The top handset manufacturers prioritise their development efforts for the volume GSM market and it's evolution to WCDMA. New features are introduced on these handsets first. When North American consumers finally begin to adopt mobile phones and data services similar to their European counterparts, what phones will they choose?
[name and address supplied]
The start-up our correspondent works for ought to be in the first wave of new entrepreneurs who form the next wave of investment, profits and wealth here.
Instead, we have a monoculture that seems determined to keep American consumers behind the curve
Source: The Register
XDA To Bundle Spb GPRS Monitor Tuesday, November 5 2002
mm02, one of the leading mobile operators, announced today that it is beginning to bundle Spb GPRS Monitor software with its XDA Pocket PC phones. From now on each customer purchasing o2 XDA in Hong Kong and Malaysia get a free pre-installed copy of a powerful tool that measures GPRS traffic and calculates data connection usage costs.
Spb GPRS Monitor gives users of wirelessly connected Pocket PCs such as the o2 XDA, a chance to know all the details about their network connection and save money on their GPRS or cellular connection. Spb GPRS Monitor logs all GPRS traffic and reports data transfer amounts and costs per certain period of time; logs daily/monthly/yearly data transfer amounts, compares the collected data against pre-defined tariff rates and performs some other activities that help mobile users maintain their cellular phone account.
Source: Spb Software House
Handspring to License RIM Patents Tuesday, November 5 2002
Handspring plans to license Research In Motion's keyboard patents, paving the way to settle pending litigation from the maker of the BlackBerry wireless devices, the companies announced Tuesday.
Under the agreement, certain RIM patents will be licensed to Handspring, the maker of Treo handheld devices. Research In Motion also noted that once a definitive licensing agreement has been reached, it plans to drop its pending lawsuit against Handspring over copyright infringement.
Last September, RIM filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Delaware against Handspring.
RIM alleged that keyboards on Handspring's Treo k180, 270 and 300 models violate its patents. The Treos provide a small keyboard that allows people to type with one thumb, a feature also found on RIM's BlackBerry devices.
"Our agreement with Handspring further validates our strong patent portfolio and leadership in innovative wireless communications solutions like BlackBerry," Jim Balsillie, RIM's co-chief executive, said in a statement.
RIM has been aggressive in pursing patent infringement suits. Other suits include those against Glenayre Technologies, in which it reached a settlement in February, and Good Technology, which recently won a round when a California judge denied RIM's request for a temporary restraining order.
Source: News.com
Dell Announces Handhelds Tuesday, November 5 2002
Dell Computer is looking to put the squeeze on handheld makers with the introduction this month of two of its own handhelds.
A company representative Monday confirmed that the Austin, Texas-based computer maker will release its handhelds Nov. 18 at the Comdex Fall 2002 trade show, but declined to comment further on specifications or pricing. But sources close to the company said it will offer two devices, one for $199 and another for $299, which will fall under a new product line called Axim X5.
A sneak peek of the devices, including the name and the launch date appeared on Dell's Web site Monday.
According to an internal Dell document leaked onto the Web last month, the devices will also feature Secure Digital and Compact Flash expansion slots, a 3.5-inch transflective TFT (thin-film transistor) screen and a jog dial. The document was confirmed to be from Dell, but the specifications might not be final.
One significant difference between the two devices is the processor. The $199 Axim will use a 300MHz Intel XScale chip, while the $299 device will use a 400MHz Intel XScale chip, sources said.
Dell has repeatedly said it would enter the handheld industry as part of its expansion into new markets. But while competitors have cut prices to prepare for Dell's entry, analysts say their efforts may be trumped by Dell's even lower prices.
ViewSonic recently announced a $299 Pocket PC-based device, and Hewlett-Packard has said that it is aiming for the midrange market with at least one new device for the holiday shopping season.
Source: News.com
Future of 15 Nokia MMS Phones Tuesday, November 5 2002
"Nokia continues to benefit from good demand for color-screen phones with advanced mobile messaging capability," said Nokia Chairman and CEO Jorma Ollila on Tuesday, speaking at the seventh annual Nokia Mobile Internet Conference in Munich. Including new launches made on the eve of the event, the company now has 15 phones supporting MMS. Ollila told an audience of developers, content providers and operators that in 2003, more than half of all Nokia phones sold would be MMS-enabled.
"Next year Nokia expects to ship 50-100 million devices which have a color display and an open application development platform. Of these phones, we expect roughly 10 million will be Series 60 based devices. The rest will be based on the Nokia operating systems and have the
standard Open Mobile Alliance service enablers, including MMS, Java and browsing."
The mobile industry, with more than 1 billion mobile phone users, offers very high potential for software and applications developers," said Ollila. "In the months to come, you will see us doing a lot to support developer efforts by lowering the costs and complexity of deploying applications across multiple Nokia handsets, and by further
improving our channels to market for application developers. This is supported by our wide product portfolio and the sheer industry volumes," he said.
Ollila emphasized that the way forward in mobile communications would be through openness and collaboration and that the GSM/EDGE/WCDMA technology family would continue to set the global benchmark.
Almost one year ago Nokia announced it would make core software technology available to the industry in the form of its Series 60 platform. "The success of our Nokia Series 60 software platform is evident," said Ollila. "There are already hundreds of applications available and licensing agreements have been signed with several phone manufacturers, whose combined handset market share accounts for around 60%."
With the emergence of totally new categories in mobile devices, the transition to advanced mobile services is happening now. More than 60 network operators in Europe and Asia are already offering multimedia messaging services and the number is increasing every week.
MMS-capable terminals, including those with digital cameras are in strong demand and more than one million Nokia 7650s, the company's first integrated camera phone, have already been sold.
On technology standards, the evolution from GSM to EDGE and WCDMA continues to be the most important path in the mobile world. More than 100 licences have been allocated by national administrations for the new 2GHz frequency band. Almost all licensees have chosen WCDMA technology - and the majority of these networks are currently being
built. Looking ahead, the GSM family of technologies is estimated to represent 85% of all mobile phone subscriptions in the world by 2006.
Source: Nokia
Nokia Launches 9 New Products Monday, November 4 2002
Nokia today introduced the latest additions to its strong portfolio of phones, with high-quality color displays, Java (TM) and multimedia messaging (MMS) support in the active, classic, fashion and premium categories, as well as a mobile entry phone, a new messaging device, and three new mobile enhancements. Nokia also announced its intention to bring mobility to the games industry.
Nokia will bring mobility to the games industry by offering console quality games for a new mobile game deck product category. The rich games will be distributed on memory cards. Mobile gaming interactivity will reach new levels together with game optimized mobile devices that offer consumers a truly rich, interactive mobile
gaming experience. Nokia will introduce the first game optimized product in the mobile game deck category, the
Nokia N-GageTM mobile game deck, together with branded game titles from top games publishers and developers in February 2003.
New messaging device and five phones for a wide range of consumers
The Nokia 6800, with its innovative design, is the first messaging device optimized for efficient text input. Mobile professionals can take advantage of its easy-to-use full keyboard for personal information management and messaging or otherwise inputting text. The Nokia 6800 also comes with a high-quality color display, SyncML support, email support, a stereo FM radio, as well as Java and MMS
support.** The dual band Nokia 6800 is expected to start shipping in the first quarter 2003 in Europe, Africa and Asia.
The Nokia 7250 is a svelte fashion phone with an integrated CIF camera. Boasting a full color display, support for MMS** and Java, the Nokia 7250 also incorporates a stereo FM radio and tri-band functionality. The Nokia 7250 is expected to start shipping in the first quarter 2003 globally.
The Nokia 6100 phone, the world's smallest and lightest GPRS, MMS** phone with color display, has a slim, streamlined shape with a wide complement of features. It is a tri-band mobile phone functioning around the globe wherever GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 networks are available. The Nokia 6100 phone is expected to start shipping before
the end of 2002.
Reflecting today's trends in bold yet functional active lifestyle attire, the Nokia 5100 combines wearability and durability with tri-band functionality (EGSM 900/GSM 1800/1900) The Nokia 5100 phone also includes a full color display, Java and MMS functionality**, wrapped in a modern design created to inspire people with an active leisure lifestyle. Shipments are scheduled to begin globally in the
first quarter 2003.
The Nokia 8910i links genuine materials with functionality and elegance in inspired ways, thereby continuing the successful design path of its predecessors. Offering MMS**, Java, Bluetooth wireless technology, HSCSD and GPRS, the sleek titanium-cased Nokia 8910i is clearly a premium phone in a class of its own. Deliveries of the
Nokia 8910i (EGSM 900/1800) are expected to start in the first quarter 2003 in European, African and Asian markets.
The Nokia 2100 is the first mobile entry product, an affordable and easy-to-use mobile phone for voice and text messaging to cater to first time users in low mobile penetration markets in Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific. The Nokia 2100 is expected to be commercially available during the first quarter of 2003 in Europe, Africa and Asia
Pacific.
Developers interested in creating software applications Nokia phones can source product specifications, get technical assistance and download tools from Forum Nokia, Nokia's global developer program, at http://www.Forum.Nokia.com.
Innovative mobile enhancements
The Nokia Observation Camera is a unique stand-alone imaging device that allows users to request and receive information remotely. This can be done by simply sending a text message to the Observation Camera, which may be installed in various places. When the Observation Camera receives the request message, it takes an image and sends it to the mobile phone number or an e-mail address defined
in the message. The images are sent as an MMS.** The Nokia
Observation Camera operates within the GSM 900/1800 network coverage area in GPRS environment and is expected to start shipping in the second quarter, 2003. It will be available in Europe, Africa and Asia.
The Nokia Camera Headset HS-1C is a combined easy-to-wear digital camera and headset enhancement for compatible Nokia phone models with the Nokia Pop-PortTM interface connector.* The Camera Headset enables users to take digital images and send them as MMS with text, image, and/or audio content.** The Camera Headset will start shipping globally in December 2002.
The Nokia Music Stand enhancement allows the Nokia 7250 phone's built-in radio to be played through high-quality stereo speakers, simply by placing the Nokia 7250 into the stand. The Nokia Music Stand also works with the Nokia 6800 via its Pop-Port connector. It will be available in the first quarter 2003 globally.
Source: Nokia
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