September 8, 1997

Handheld Fax And E-Mail Cell phone combines several chips into one powerful processor By Tom Davey andheld computing devices are expected to appear late this year that combine E-mail and fax capabilities with improved versions of more sophisticated technologies such as handwriting recognition. Northern Telecom Ltd., the Brampton, Ontario, telephone equipment manufacturer, plans to introduce in the second quarter of 1998 a Java-based cell phone that sends and receives E-mail via the Internet. Code-named Orbitor, the phone will be slightly larger than the average cell phone and include a touch screen the size of a credit card. The phone, which is already being tested in Europe, will be able to translate handwritten characters to text on the screen . Initially, Orbitor will be steeply priced at nearly $1,000. Users will need to sign up with an Internet service provider in addition to buying a cellular phone service. The initial version is designed to use the new digital personal communications services that are currently being deployed by service providers across the United States. Analysts also expect a version of the Newton will be announced around the Comdex trade show in November that will incorporate superior handwriting recognition based on Java. The Newton PDA, developed by Apple, is now sold by Apple spin-off Newton Inc. in Cupertino, Calif. More For Less The devices run on new, more powerful purpose-built processors that combine the role of several chips into one, which means more features at a lower price. The devices also require less power, so users should see longer battery life. The Orbitor phone will use a new chip from Digital Equipment that combines the data-crunching capabilities of a microprocessor with other functions such as controller chips for memory and liquid crystal displays, and the ability to replace modem hardware with software. "This thing is impressive as far as the power/performance ratio is concerned," says Jim Turley, senior editor for the newsletter Microprocessor Report in Sunnyvale, Calif. "Digital has been extremely efficient in its design of the chip." Rival chipmakers such as Hitachi, NEC, and Advanced Micro Devices are developing similar components. Other original equipment manufacturers use the Digital chip to develop handheld units for vertical markets, says a Digital official. A voice-recognition PDA is being developed for the shipping industry so workers on a conveyor belt will read addresses into a device that translates the voice to digital form and transmits it to a sorting machine. One manufacturer is developing a device that will read E-mail aloud while users are driving. Some analysts believe handheld devices are about to become very popular among business travelers. For instance, adding E-mail capabilities to a cell phone could reduce the need to carry notebook PCs. "Users tell us they want a handheld device to support color graphics and to be an extension of the desktop with adequate communication speeds," says Gerry Purdy, publisher of the newsletter Mobile Letter in Mountain View, Calif. "This should expand the handheld market just like the Pentium did for the notebook world." Back to News in Review Send Us Your Feedback Top of the Page

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