Mobile Showcase whets wireless appetite

PALM SPRINGS, CALIF. -- Here at Mobile Showcase 2004, 50 enterprise-focused mobile computing vendors have six minutes to strut their stuff on stage. A variety of corporate wireless devices and software have been demonstrated, illuminating the latest and greatest in wireless enterprise offerings.

Several hot devices were previewed at the show including FlipStart, which combines the functionality of a laptop in a PDA-size package. The 1-pound device runs Windows XP Professional and features a 30GB hard drive, 1GHz processor, and 256MB of RAM.

"It is a full-blown laptop in the size of a PDA -- full Windows XP Professional, integrated 802.11 [b and g], video, and music," said Greg Enell, director of sales at Vulcan, which backs the FlipStart.

One version of FlipStart features a low-power, lid display module that gives users access to applications such as e-mail and calendar without opening the device. The display can preserve battery life by allowing the system to function in a low power mode, according to Enell. The FlipStart currently offers 2 hours of battery life, with a 3-hour battery life device planned. The devices previewed were prototypes of the product, which is scheduled to ship in January.

Another computing device previewed here is the OQO, a 14-ounce mini PC that offers full PC functionally including support for Windows XP applications.

Both the OQO and the FlipStart are designed to replace PDA devices that typically require rewriting of corporate applications or synchronization of data.

The OQO features a 1GHz Transmeta processor, a 20GB hard drive, 256MB of RAM, and as many as six hours of battery life under normal usage, according to OQO officials.

Tablet PC innovations were also demonstrated by vendors Motion Computing, Electrovaya, and ViewSonic. Motion Computing showed off its Motion M1400 Tablet PC, a slate-style tablet targeted at vertical industries such as healthcare, field sales, government, and education. The M1400 features a wide viewing angle, 160 to 170 degrees, on a 12.1-inch display. The system also touts advanced audio capabilities, with a dual microphone array that can cancel echo and background noise, according to Elizabeth Clark, marketing manager at Motion Computing.

Electrovaya, meanwhile, demonstrated its Scribbler SC2000 Tablet PC that features extended battery life through the company's proprietary lithium ion SuperPolymer rechargeable battery technology. This specialized battery can power the Tablet all day, up to 16 hours, according to Electrovaya officials.

ViewSonic showed its V1250S, a convertible tablet PC that includes integrated 802.11g and b wireless. The 802.11g wireless standard can support wireless networking with transfer speeds nearly five times faster than 802.11b, according to ViewSonic officials.

Targeting control of large-scale mobile computing deployments, NetMotion Wireless at the show launched a new version of its Mobility XE  mobility management software. Mobility XE is designed to address the problems of connection reliability, data access, and management in enterprise wireless deployments.

New features in XE include server pooling for improved scalability, load balancing and automated failover, a centralized Mobility Management Console that enables Web-based access to full management functionality, according to NetMotion officials.

Expanding the Web-based management functionality "gives administrators the ability to configure and manage mobile deployments from any device with a browser," said Paul Brickel, senior product manager at NetMotion Wireless.