Fujitsu to introduce H/PC Pro

Fujitsu (www.fujitsu-pc.com or www.fpsi.fujitsu.com) has announced that it is developing and plans to introduce a line of Handheld PC Pros over the next year. The Fujitsu devices will feature large VGA touch screens, touchtypeable keyboards, and come in tablet and clamshell configurations. According to Fujitsu, the Handheld PC Pros will be based on their INTERTop (see above), a half-notebook-sized PDA available in Japan. Fujitsu collaborated with Microsoft in the development of the Windows CE Handheld PC Professional Edition, providing several hundred INTERTOP CE development platforms used to test the new version of the operating system and H/PC Pro applications.

NCC/Everex introduce PalmScribe Freestyle Palm-size PC

NCC, Inc. (www.digitaldictate.com) and Everex (www.everex.com) have announced the introduction of the PalmScribe Freestyle. PalmScribe combines NCC's speech recognition technology with Everex's Freestyle Palm-size PC. Voice Recording memos can be transferred to the desktop PC and automatically transcribed into text files.

Casio Soft to develop software for Windows CE PC Companions

Casio Computer Company has established Casio Soft, Inc. (www.casiosoft.com), a subsidiary that will provide retail software products and development services for the Windows CE market. Casio Soft has already announced its first three software packages for Windows CE users: CSI Project is a project management program; CSI Outliner is an outliner and list manager. CSI PowerPack is a collection of Windows CE utilities. Please see page 38 of PC Companion Products for more information on these products, and for Casio Soft contact information.

FITALY

Textware Solutions (www.twsolutions.com) has announced the release of FITALY, a virtual keyboard for the Palm-size PC. The FITALY key arrangement minimizes pen travel, placing the most-used keys in the center of a virtual keyboard displayed on the Palm-size PC's screen.

New Handheld PC Professional Editions announced

A number of OEM manufacturers have announced that they are developing, or have released a version of the new Handheld PC Professional Edition. These include the Hewlett-Packard HP Jornada 820, the LG Electronics Phenom Express, the NEC MobilePro 800 and MobilePro 770, the NTS Dreamwriter I.T., the Samsung eGO note H/PC Pro, Sharp Mobilon TriPad PV-6000 and Mobilon Pro PV 5000, the Vadem Clio H/PC Pro. A brief review of the HP Jornada is here. More information on the other H/PC Pros is available in our At A Glance section, here.

In addition, the following manufacturers are announced on the Microsoft Website as supporting Windows CE Handheld PC Professional Edition: Casio, Compaq, Everex, Fujitsu, and Hitachi. The following manufacturers have not been formally announced, but are rumored to be supporting the Handheld PC Professional edition: IBM and Featron.

SanDisk Introduces higher-capacity CompactFlash memory cards

SanDisk (www.sandisk.com) has announced that it will offer four new higher-capacity CompactFlash memory cards. According to SanDisk the new 64 MB, 80MB, 96MB, and 160MB CF memory cards were developed to provide greater data storage for mobile computers, including the new Windows CE Handheld PC Professional Edition.

Photo Access helping manufacturers develop Windows CE digital cameras

Photo Access is developing integrated circuits and proprietary software that will allow digital camera manufacturers to deliver digital camera products based on the Windows CE operating system. The Company is developing a product line that will include the following:

No word on when the cameras will be announced. For more information, contact: Photo Access Corp.; Web: www.photoaccess.com/

Spyglass to offer Windows CE development services

Spyglass (www.spyglass.com) has established a Windows CE consulting practice to work with consumer electronics, telecommunications, office equipment, wireless, cable and direct satellite companies interested in developing products and services for the Windows CE platform. In addition to providing customizations and integration around Spyglass' recently announced Device Mosaic for Windows CE browser, Spyglass will help develop lower-level custom shell development for companies developing Embedded CE devices; work on systems used for machine control on the factory floor, as well as higher level application development and systems integration revolving around the Palm-size PCs, handheld PCs and auto PC line of products based on Microsoft's Windows CE operating system. Spyglass is an approved Windows CE Systems Integrator, and has been providing Windows CE Professional Services work for direct licensees of the Windows CE operating system.

Intermec Technologies announces the Data Collection PC

Data Collection PC is a family of Windows CE data-collection incorporating Intermec's high-performance wireless LAN technology, bar code scanning and power management features. According to Intermec (www.intermec.com), Data Collection PC will let IT managers seamlessly develop and support a completely integrated network. The first device in the new line will be available in the first half of 1999, with a complete software developer kit (SDK).

FutureSoft enhances DynaComm

FutureSoft , Inc. (www.futuresoft.com) announced that they have enhanced the functionality of their DynaComm Connectivity Series (DCS) for Windows CE, including providing support for H/PC Pros. DCS provides access to all major host systems including IBM, Tandem, Digital and UNIX. DCS allows H/PC users to utilize their devices as data terminals in order to access legacy information while on the road or working remotely.

GoAmerica to join WirelessKnowledge LLC partnership

GoAmerica Communications Corp. (www.goamerica.net) will partner with wirelessKnowledge LLC (www.wirelessknowledge.com), the newly-announced joint venture between Microsoft and QUALCOMM Inc., to help bring wireless data solutions to wireless carriers and corporations. Under the terms of the partnership, GoAmerica will work with corporations utilizing the wirelessKnowledge Service and assist them in creating corporate data solutions for their mobile workers. Working with wirelessKnowledge, GoAmerica will provide integration services for carrier customers utilizing the wirelessKnowledge Service who require "turn-key" implementations. GoAmerica will manage initial corporate wireless data deployments, and provide custom software development services to develop interfaces between corporate data and Microsoft Exchange servers. In addition, GoAmerica will provide training for those corporations, including user orientation sessions and on-site in-depth solutions training.

Data Collection PC With Middleware

Intermec (www.intermec.com) Epic Data International will offer Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) applications for a new Windows CE-based Data Collection PC, scheduled to be released in the first half of 1999. Epic Data's middleware lets you route data collected by the Data Collection PC to the IT system.

Intellisync Anywhere

Puma Technology has announced the development of Intellisync Anywhere, a server-based synchronization program for mobile users. Anywhere provides remote and LAN-based synchronization of handheld devices with enterprise groupware applications. Intellisync Anywhere provides end-users with one-touch synchronization of their calendars, contacts, e-mail, to-do's, and memos stored on Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes servers. Intellisync Anywhere for Microsoft Exchange will initially support the Palm Computing platform products with expected availability in November, 1998, with Windows CE-based devices supported during the first quarter of 1999. Support for Lotus Notes is also expected to be available during the first quarter of 1999. The Intellisync Anywhere solution, which includes the Intellisync Anywhere Server, Desktop and Mobile Client, is priced on a per user basis varying with volume, with a $99 per user figure based on 100 users.

For more information, contact: Puma Technology; Phone: 800-774-7862; Fax: 408-433-2212; Web: www.pumatech.com

Developer looking for beta testers of SSH encryption client for Windows CE.

Mov Software is developing an SSH client that will allow a user to connect to a remote host using strong encryption. This encryption protects the confidentiality of all transmitted information. If you are interested in participating in the beta test of their product, please contact Mov Software; E-mail: movinfo@movsoftware.com; Web site: www.movsoftware.com.

AvantGo/Oracle alliance to develop mobile internet-based databases

AvantGo (www.avantgo.com) announced a strategic alliance with Oracle (www.oracle.com) to develop and distribute enterprise-ready mobile Internet-based applications on Windows CE and other handheld devices. The mobile devices will be able to access Oracle 8i databases using Oracle Lite, which stores user group, channel configuration and directory information. Starting with shipments this week, Oracle Lite is embedded in the AvantGo 2.0 mobile server.

Motorola boosts CE processor support

Motorola has released an updated "PowerPC Supplement for Microsoft Platform Builder" tool kit to support development of Windows CE embedded systems solutions using its MPC8xx group of PowerPC chips. The new supplement for Platform Builder includes tools such as an Ethernet device driver, a user interface similar to that of Microsoft Internet Explorer and APIs for the communications module of the MPC8xx chips. Further information is available from the company's Web site. Web: www.mot.com/SPS/PowerPC/solutions/windowsce/windowsce.html

Delta Airlines offers discount to Windows CE Purchasers

If you bought any PC Companion powered by Microsoft Windows CE between October 1st and December 31, 1998; you will be eligible to receive a discount certificate from Delta Air Lines for up to $100 off a coach fare ticket, depending on value of purchase. Be sure to book your flight at 800-221-1212. Offer good in the 50 United States and Canada only. More details available at www.microsoft.com/windowsce/delta.asp.

Windows CE User Groups

If you're interested in creating a Handheld PC or Palm-size PC user group in your area, or want to find the closest existing user group, visit Microsoft's Mindshare Web site at www.microsoft.com/mindshare.

Easy Diary Online Calendar and Contact Service

Ruksun Software's Messaging Technologies Group recently announced the launch of Easy Diary, a free web-based calendar and scheduling service. Easy Diary provides an online tool for day planning, making and confirming appointments and meetings, as well as sending or receiving event reminders. Easy Diary has the following features:

For more information contact Ruksun's Easy Diary Web site: www.easydiary.com

GoldMine 5.0 to support for Windows CE