RECENT NEWS FLASH 2000-14 (May 2000)

(Updated on May 8,  2000)

PRODUCTS, SERVICES AND APPLICATIONS

Pocket PC Finds Early Applications

The Pocket PC operating system features a simple, faster user interface, extensive Internet browsing capabilities and powerful overall performance and provides solutions for businesses, especially in field service and customer service.

Field Service

Symbol Technologies and Technological Business Solutions (TBS) will team to provide Avis Europe, car rental company, with a mobile assessment system to appraise light damage to vehicles in two minutes.  The solution components comprise of:

• Symbol PP2700 barcode enabled handheld device
• Pocket PC O/S
• TBS’s AutoGraph software system
• Avis’ Wizard System
• WLAN or remote GSM

The potential savings to Avis is approximately £30 million a year in unclaimed costs.

Customer Service

Ameranth Technologies Systems® is designing a mobile POS station system for Jamba Juice, a U.S. restaurant chain, to enhance customer service during peak periods.  The solution components are:

• Jamba Juices’ Aloha-by-Ibertech POS system
• Ameranth’s 21^st Century Communication Middleware™
• Symbol  Spectrum® 24 wireless network
• Pocket PC enabled UltraPad™ handheld computer

The restaurant chain sees the wireless-enabled Pocket PCs as the key component in reaching its goal of fast and efficient customer service.

For more information, go to http://www.symbol.com/news/pressreleases/pr_pocket_pc_avis.html

http://www.ameranth.com/press_releases/pocketpc_jamba2.html

Mobileinfo Advisory and Comment:

Microsoft is serious about Pocket PC but has a lot of catch up to do with Palm. The users have stated that in the case of handheld applications, they will vote for ease of user experience, not with the capabilities of the operating system. Programmers will always find a way of overcoming the deficiencies of an OS so long as the form factor and ease of use matche user expectations. IT professionals should listen to the users during the pilot stage and try multiple devices with multiple OSes, if warranted. If the users vote for the Pocket PC applications, let us give credit to both Microsoft and application developers. But then we need competition to Palm as well!. 

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.

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