News
Issue #2002 - 44 (November 2002)
(Updated Nov. 20, 2002)

DEVICES

Dell Enters PDA Market - Microsoft Continues to Score Points 

Dell Enters the PDA Market
As expected, Dell has entered the PDA market with two models called Axim X5, based on Microsoft Pocket PC. The base model will sell for $199 and more upscale model will sell for $299. While the former fields a 300 MHz Intel Xscale processor with 32 MB of SDRAM, the latter sports a 400 MHz version of the same processor with 64 MB of SDRAM and a USB cradle.

Hewlett-Packard Introduces Two New iPAQ Models
Hewlett-Packard introduced the $699 iPAQ Pocket PC H5450, which comes with a built-in fingerprint scanner, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth adapters. It has a Secure Digital disk slot and a removable, rechargeable battery. It comes with a 400MHz Intel processor, and 48MB of read only memory (ROM) and 64MB of random access memory (RAM). The $299 iPAQ Pocket PC H1910 is priced competitively with ViewSonic's budget-priced model. It has a 200MHz Intel processor, 16MB of ROM and 64MB of RAM, a Secure Digital slot, and a removable, rechargeable battery. (Source: PCWorld.com, CNET News.com) 

Personalization Server for Microsoft Smartphones
Source - PMN - DAT, the software and professional services group, has announced a personalisation server for Microsoft's Smartphones platform. The server, which enables customisation of the handset interface, will be marketed to network operators and handset retailers. 

Users can access a web-based account to update their Smartphone with themes, ringtones, backgrounds, games and other content. The user can also create their own customised content. The product was demonstrated as a key feature of the Smartphones platform at the Orange / Microsoft global launch. 

DAT also said that it had extended Tesco's Pocket Shopper application for the Smartphones platform. 

Nick Lansley, IT New Technologies Manager at Tesco.com said "We are very excited about bringing the Tesco Pocket Shopper to the Smartphone. DAT Group have proved themselves to be a best-of-breed developer of mobile applications when they created the Tesco Pocket Shopper for the Microsoft Pocket PC, so we had no hesitation in approaching them to develop a version for the Smartphone. We are delighted to be working with them on this new project." 

Microsoft and Samsung Release Concept Design for Low-cost Pocket PC
Microsoft and Samsung today announced a concept design for a low-cost Pocket PC Pricing will be close to the range of the new ViewSonic low-cost handheld (i.e. somewhere around $200 a unit). The design will be aimed at OEMs and ODMs looking to enter the Pocket PC market with a more mass-market device. The new design incorporates a Samsung ARM9-based S3C2410 application processor with Pocket PC software and a 3.5-inch QVGA grayscale or color display. The design will also sport multimedia card, SD, and SDIO expansion card capabilities. 

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: See our editorial on Dell's entry into handheld device space. Pocket. It will have significant impact in terms of commoditization of the device market and giving Palm strong competition in the enterprise market.

Pocket PC continues to make inroads with powerful PDA models for enterprise applications. Fingerprint scanner, WiFi and Bluetooth features will make this iPaq model suitable for business applications where security and connectivity are important. For those cost-sensitive applications, the new reference design from Microsoft-Samsung duo might give Palm a serious competition. On the smartphone side, we expect Microsoft to reinvigorate its efforts after its current setback vis-a-vis Sendo's rejection of Pocket PC platform in favour of Nokia's version 60. 

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of Securities Exchange act of 1934 in USA. Similar provisions exist in other countries. There is no assurance that the stipulated plans of vendors will be implemented. MobileInfo does not warrant the authenticity of the information. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.