Handsets
Neopoint
The company released new dual-band and tri-mode smart phones that include increased capacity for personal digital assistant functions, built-in e-mail capabilities and a NeoPad Qwerty keyboard. The dual-band NeoPoint 2000 and tri-mode NeoPoint 2600 phones hold more than 2,000 contacts, schedule, task and personal note items. They can be synched with Microsoft and Lotus software, along with wireless Internet access. The e-mail function allows users to have the same e-mail addresses on their wireless phones as on their computers and offers a built-in address book. Additional features include a world clock, calculator, customizable ringers, an alarm clock and games. www.neopoint.com
Handspring
Handspring announced the VisorPhone Springboard voice module for its Visor handheld computer. VisorPhone is a compact expansion module that snaps into the Springboard expansion slot on any Visor handheld, allowing users to make and receive voice calls. People use the product’s interface for functions such as conference calling, caller identification, programming and speed-dial numbers, displaying call histories and for standard dialing functions. The unit can also be used for short message service (SMS) text messaging, wireless synchronization with a desktop computer and wireless access to the Internet and e-mail applications when combined with third-party software. The product was designed and built in partnership with Belgium-based Option International. The module includes a battery, speaker, antenna and three buttons, one power button and two that allow users to switch between voice and text messaging functions. The Visor is sold in North American, Western and Central Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan. www.handspring.com
Ericsson
Ericsson launched its new T20 mobile phone, available in November, which features Swatch Internet time and Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) mobile chat. The company said the Swatch Internet time feature will help customers keep track of all the time differences and daylight savings time throughout the world. Mobile Chat is a real-time chat service that can be used from WAP phones, as well as over the Web. The phone also allows users to attach an FM radio or MP3 player. Ericsson debuted the new phone, which comes in several vibrant colors, at simultaneous events in London; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; Athens, Greece; and Moscow. www.ericsson.com
Bluetooth
Motorola
Motorola introduced two Bluetooth products, a Timeport 270 wireless phone and a Bluetooth Smart Module accessory, which when combined with the company’s previously released Bluetooth PC card, provide Motorola’s first complete Bluetooth solution for consumers, providing capabilities for wireless dial-up networking and automatic synchronization, the company said. In addition to Bluetooth capabilities, the Timeport 270 tri-mode CDMA phone also includes Motorola’s redesigned user interface, developed to provide easy navigation of the phone through enhanced visual clues and list-based menus. www.mot.com
GN Netcom
The company released the GN 9000 Bluetooth wireless headset with product certification from a Bluetooth Qualification Body. The headset will allow users to communicate with a variety of Bluetooth-enabled devices, including mobile phones, personal computers and personal digital assistants, without wires and hands free. The unit includes a desktop base station and lightweight headset with adjustable headband and flexible microphone boom. The headset and base station feature volume and mute buttons and online indicators. The headset operates within a range of 10 meters from any Bluetooth device with which it is connected. The base station plugs into standard desktop phones. The headset also will be offered as a stand-alone product as other Bluetooth-enabled devices enter the market. www.gnnetcom.com
Red-M
The 3000AS access service, a Bluetooth networking product, was announced by Red-M. The product, combined with the 1000AP access point, enables a Bluetooth network inside a building or concourse for the delivery of next-generation mobile services. The product integrates Bluetooth technology with Internet access capabilities for rapid deployment in a wide range of environments, the company said. The 3000AS incorporates wide area networking and local area networking interfaces, along with Web page caching, secure firewall and virtual private networking functions. In addition, the technology hosts an e-mail and Web server for delivery of local e-mail and Web content to the Bluetooth devices. The product provides coverage of up to 100 meters per access server or access point. www.red-m.com
Classwave Wireless
Classwave said it extended its Polyphony Server product line to support Bluetooth, creating a new product category of Bluetooth network infrastructure. The servers route information to mobile phones over mobile networks and to Bluetooth-enabled devices via the Internet through Smart Network access Points. The company said it is targeting the mobile professional and youth markets. www.classwave.com
Extended Systems
Extended Systems introduced a Bluetooth software development kit for Windows, including data management applications, core protocols and a wireless toolkit designed to help Windows developers build Bluetooth applications. The XTNDConnect Blue SDK comprises two data management applications for exchanging and synchronizing data, the XTNDConnect Monitor and XTNDConnect PC. The first enables users to see and manage multiple Bluetooth devices. Features include the capability to monitor the status of Bluetooth connections and send or receive files to another Bluetooth device. The latter synchronizes data between a PC and Windows CE and Palm OS platform devices. www.extendedsystems.com
Network infrastructure
Nokia
Nokia introduced several new third-generation (3G) network solutions and mobile Internet application platforms. The company’s mPlatform Solution is an enabling layer solution for operators to build mobile Internet portals and tailor new services. In addition, Nokia’s mPosition is an end-to-end location-based solution for mobile networks, while mCatch is a network-based, location-based service system designed for GSM networks with an upgrade path to GPRS, EDGE and 3G networks. The Nokia UltraSite W-CDMA Optima base station series consists of three new base stations, to be available in the second half of 2001. The new Nokia NetAct Configurator management solution was introduced as well, designed to support a smooth transition to next-generation networks. www.nokia.com
Nortel Networks
The company released its new Internet Protocol (IP) core network, base station and managements offerings. The Core IP Network for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) and other third-generation (3G) wireless networks will consolidate delivery of voice, video and data from multiple access technologies onto a single network. The network will support personalized services based on customer profiles, said Nortel. It is built on four platforms, including the Passport 15000 multiservice switch, Shasta 5000 Broadband Service Node, Succession solutions and Alteon content networking Web switches. www.nortelnetworks.com
Microsoft
Microsoft announced the Microsoft Mobile Information 2001 Service, which will allow companies and mobile network operators to deliver real-time mobile data services to any wireless device. Microsoft Outlook Mobile access will ship with the server, allowing real-time access to personal information management applications, such as e-mail, calendaring, contacts and tasks, from a mobile phone. The Outlook offering allows users to set up mobile profiles for notifications to their mobile devices. Microsoft is producing two versions of the service, one for enterprise organizations and one for carriers. Both can be linked
in a cascade configuration that offers enhanced security and improved message formatting benefits
, Microsoft said. www.microsoft.com
Mobile Internet applications
LPG Innovations
The Finnish company released LPG WAPoffice version 1.1, a mobile interface for basic office applications. The software allows users to access their messaging, calendaring and directory information directly from Wireless Application Protocol (WAP)-enabled devices. The new version introduces real-time connection to Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Domino calendaring services. Users can access the same e-mail system from their WAP devices that they use with their PC. SMS alert can be configured to send short message service (SMS) messages notifying of incoming e-mail. The name of the sender, subject and a part of the e-mail is included in the SMS message. Available languages are English, Finnish and German. www.lpg.fi
Wapprofit
Irish company Wapprofit released an English-language i-mode editor and emulator, allowing users to develop i-mode sites and to preview what i-mode looks like and how it can be used. An extended product will support the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) and HDML, the company said. The Windows-based i-mode editor supports the insertion of special i-mode tags, auto creation of i-mode menus with phone access keys cross referenced and enhanced display properties. It allows designers to see an approximate version of how their sites will look on an i-mode handset. www.wapprofit.com
VerbalTek
VerbalTek introduced VerbalNET 1.0 distributed speech recognition system that allows users of personal digital assistants and other mobile devices to access and navigate the wireless Internet by speaker-independent speech recognition. The company said the product is especially useful for Asian languages, where text input requires a special software keypad and an enlarged display. The software is also effective for redundant input tasks, such as stock quotes and m-commerce, the company said. VerbalNET also reformats Web page content to fit on the smaller displays of mobile devices. www.verbaltek.com
