Two-way messaging equipment
Motorola
Motorola introduced its Talkabout T900 two-way messaging device, featuring a full Qwerty keyboard with a flip-top screen and a four-line, 80-character display. It supports two-way messaging, wireless Internet e-mail and on-demand information services. It also features a private-time feature, which users may program to automatically shut off the device at pre-selected times. The network will store the message until the device is automatically reactivated. The device is aimed at consumers, with Motorola promoting its social chat and scheduling features. In addition, the T900 is available in colors such as Aqua Ice, Razberry Ice, Mystic Blue and Opaque Black. www.mot.com
Handset technology
Samsung
Samsung Electronics said it completed development of a flip-open mobile handset that comes with built-in digital camera functions. The Anycall Camera Phone (model SCH-V200) can take 20 pictures with 350,000-pixel resolution. Standard accessories include a CD-ROM for picture editing and data cable to connect the phone to a personal computer. The unit has a color TFT-LCD screen, and 1 Megabyte of memory can accommodate 20 digital photographs in regular mode or 26 pictures in conserve move. A text mode allows users to take photographs of written text. To take pictures, a user presses the camera mode button on the side of the unit. A camera lens is located on the upper part of the unit’s backside, and the subject captured is displayed on the LCD screen. Once the subject is correctly framed, the user presses the shutter button on the bottom of the screen. The unit comes with a phone directory, vibration alert and privacy protection functions. With high-capacity batteries, the phones deliver 170 minutes of continuous talk time and 180 hours on standby. http: samsungelectronics.com
Lucent Technologies
Lucent announced a reference design platform for manufacturers of GPRS handsets that the company claims will shave the time-to-market interval for Internet-equipped handsets to approximately four months, compared with as much as 15 months without the platform. The range includes technologies required to build a GPRS handset, eliminating the need for manufacturers to build such products on their own. Lucent said the platform gives manufacturers the flexibility and scalability to develop at least two new handsets using the same platform design, without additional engineering resources. Global delivery of the new platform to handset manufacturers is expected to begin by fourth-quarter 2000. www.lucent.com
Bluetooth products
C Technologies
Swedish company C Tech announced development of C-Mouse, a computer mouse with Bluetooth technology. The unit will automatically detect and capture context-sensitive data, such as text and bar codes. The conceptual product will be able to share data with other portables devices, the company said. Users can navigate on a screen and copy and paste ordinary text straight into any application. Hot buttons on the mouse pad will create shortcuts to favorite Web addresses or common tasks in personal computer applications.
The company also released the C-Pen 800 with PalmPilot compatibility, calendar and planner functions, a text scanner, alarm and built-in NiMH battery. The C Message feature for GSM phones enables fax, short message service and e-mail capabilities. The personal digital assistant enables users to read, write, translate, e-mail, fax, store, transfer and display information. The unit can be calibrated for left- or right-handed use. www.cpen.com
Ericsson
The company announced the T36 triple-band Bluetooth phone. The Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-enabled unit can be used anywhere in the world on a GSM network. As well as voice dialing and answering, users can navigate much of the menu system using voice commands and record and store voice memos in the phone’s memory. Bluetooth technology also makes it possible to exchange ring signals and business e-cards and play interactive games between phones. The unit supports WAP 1.2 and can send and receive data at 28.8 kilobits per second. The phone’s Aircalendar feature allows real-time updates using the Wide Area Network Synchronization standard. Using the Ultra Slim Battery, the phone has up to 455 minutes talk time and up to 200 hours of standby time. Text messaging is enhanced with predictive text input software, which anticipates a word or phrase, said Ericsson. The T36mc will use a complete Chinese interface. The T36 will be available in fourth-quarter 2000. www.ericsson.com
Wireless data
Logica
Japanese company Logica announced the global launch of m-WorldGate, a cHTML gateway allowing operators outside Japan to either complement their existing Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) strategies or to build new mobile Internet services based on compact Hypertext Markup Language (cHTML). The product allows content to be presented on mobile phones supporting cHTML browsers, regardless of the underlying network technology. Japan’s iMode uses the cHTML format. www.logica.com/telecom
