Microsoft, Sagem Intro Next-Gen PDA Smartphone

Microsoft and Sagem have unveiled the industry's
first dual-band GSM/GPRS (general packet radio service) -enabled
Pocket PC.

The Pocket PC, which appears to be a hybrid between a PDA and a
mobile phone, uses the Windows CE operating system, which is now
known as Microsoft Pocket PC.

However, the inclusion of support for GPRS means that users can surf
the Web and use e-mail services using the mobile Internet at speeds
approaching that of a 56k wireline modem connection.

Despite its facilities, the Sagem Pocket PC, as it is called, is
relatively thin and light, tipping the scales at 198
grams - significantly less than a standard Pocket PC and the
long-running Nokia Communicator smartphone series.

Support for both WAP (wireless application protocol) and regular Web
browser access to the Net are included as standard in the smartphone,
and other Microsoft applications provide the usual array of
on-the-move facilities seen on regular PDAs.

These include pocket editions of MS-Word and Excel, as well as an
onboard MP3 player using Microsoft's Windows Media Player. The unit
also supports the Windows CE/Pocket PC operating system, allowing it
access to a wide variety of mobile software.

Microsoft's Web site is at http://www.microsoft.com.

Sagem's Web site is at http://www.sagem.com.