MONTREAL-DataWind Corp. released its new PocketSurfer wireless Internet device, a unique offering that allows users to view full-sized Web pages by connecting their PocketSurfer device to a wireless data-capable mobile phone.
“All-in-one cellular Internet products try to do too many things and wind up doing none of them well,” said Suneet Tuli, chief executive officer of DataWind. “The PocketSurfer lets cell-phone users access the technology they need, when they need it, with complete flexibility and convenience. And it does this at a lower overall cost than a Blackberry or Handspring Treo.”
The PocketSurfer device, available for $200 from independent retailers and DataWind’s Web site, can display full HTML Web pages, as well as Java applets, Java-Scripts, image maps, animated images, background colors/images, font colors, style-sheets and plug-ins. The device connects to the Internet via a user’s mobile phone-essentially using it as a modem-and hooks up to the handset through either Bluetooth or a data cable. Users must pay for their phone’s data usage as well as DataWind’s for a $10 per month surfing fee.
The PocketSurfer is 6 by 3 inches, a little more than half an inch thick, and folds out to reveal a color screen and keyboard. DataWind said the device can load Internet pages in five to seven seconds on average due to the company’s proprietary high-end Internet server technology.
