Additional Announcements from CTIA Wireless 2003

Because CTIA Wireless 2003 is one of the largest technology tradeshows, many companies take the opportunity announce their products. This includes new handhelds, new services, and new peripherals.

Blackberry 6210

Last week, Research In Motion (RIM) unveiled the Blackberry 6210 and said it would be available in Europe. The company announced this week that this device will also be available in the U.S.

The 6210 has an always-on wireless connection and offers email, phone, SMS, web browser, and organizer applications. It includes a "thumb-typing" keyboard, navigation trackwheel, 16 MB flash memory plus 2 MB SRAM, monochrome screen, integrated speaker/microphone and headset jack. Both the screen and keyboard are backlit.

It is a world-band handheld that operates on 900/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS wireless networks in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

RIM did not say when this device would be available or at what cost. Read more about the 6210.

Treo 270 and Cingular

Handspring has announced that GPRS service is now available for users of the Treo 270 smartphone on Cingular's wireless network. Previously, Treo 270 users could only get GPRS service through T-Mobile.

GPRS allows data transfers at up to 114 Kbps, though real-world speeds are lower.

Pitch Duo

Mobility Electronics has introduced the Pitch Duo, a new version of its tool to allow Palm OS handhelds or smartphones to give notebook-quality presentations. The Duo allows the handheld to remotely control the presentation via Bluetooth.

The Pitch Duo can be connected to a computer monitor or digital projector and can display presentations at up to 1024 by 768 pixels. It comes with Quickpoint, a Palm OS app that allows the user to display PowerPoint presentations.

It will be available beginning in April through the Palm Store and iGo; pricing will begin at $280.

riteMail 2.0

Pen&Internet has released riteMail 2.0 for Pocket PC and Windows, debuting the first application that allows users to take handwritten notes on their mobile devices for editing, recognition, and Storage back at their desktops. In addition, these notes taken can be emailed over wireless and wireline connections. It costs $30 for a bundle with both the Pocket PC and Windows apps.

Related Links

• Round-Up of Information from CTIA Wireless 2003