LAS VEGAS, Nov. 13, 2000 — Today at COMDEX/Fall 2000, Microsoft Corp. announced the availability of the Entertainment PocketPak for Windows® Powered Pocket PCs, the most recent PocketPak to be made available for Pocket PCs. The Microsoft® Entertainment PocketPak for the Pocket PC includes 10 games that pack more fun into the device: Blackjack, Chess, Cinco, FreeCell, Hearts, Minesweeper, Reversi, Sink the Ships, Space Defense and Taipei. Customers can even test their gaming skills wirelessly against a competitor while playing Hearts, Reversi, Cinco and Sink the Ships by taking advantage of the built-in, industry-standard infrared capabilities of Windows Powered Pocket PCs.
PocketPaks are solutions designed by Microsoft and independent software and hardware vendors (ISVs, IHVs) that expand the functionality of the Pocket PC. PocketPaks let Pocket PC owners easily add programs and functions that fit their particular mobile needs.
“People want to do more with their devices, both out of the box and as their needs grow,”
said Rogers Weed, general manager of the Mobile Devices Division at Microsoft.
“Pocket PCs are the most expandable devices on the market, supporting not only a wide range of native applications and options, but also the ability to add specific hardware and/or software through industry standards such as the CompactFlash slot and USB sync.”
PocketPaks are available from these industry-leading independent hardware and software vendors:
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Kingston Technology Company Inc. ( http://www.kingston.com/ ) has paired with DeveloperOne ( http://www.developerone.com/ ) to bring customers a full version of CodeWallet and trial versions of DeveloperOne’s other popular Pocket PC software, such as TaskView Today and Agenda Today, on the Kingston CompactFlash card PocketPak. The card is slated for availability this December.
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Pharos Inc. ( http://www.pharosgps.com/ ) introduces Pocket PC Navigator PocketPak and iGPS PocketPak. These PocketPaks include an iGPS unit and software that offer detailed street-level mapping data; route calculation from one’s current position; point-to-point, detailed, turn-by-turn driving instructions; voice prompting; voice warning before and at turns; satellite constellation display; and more. Pharos also has a MagnaHolder PocketPak, which is a Pocket PC car dashboard holder to be used with an iGPS unit.
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Pretec Electronics Corps. ( http://www.pretec.com/ ) has a variety of PocketPaks available today, including 320MB CompactFlash PocketPak, which enables Pocket PCs such as Cassiopeia to have two hours’ multimedia movie viewing capability; a 56Kbps fax/modem card for e-mail and Internet connectivity; a 10BaseT Network PocketPak allowing Pocket PC users to establish network connections to host devices for high-speed data transfer, file sharing and synchronization; and a CompactSerial card that lets a customer’s mobile PC connect to other devices that require serial port connection, such as wireless fax/data modem, serial mouse, testing and measurement instruments, and a BarCode scanner. In addition, Pretec is demonstrating a new GPS PocketPak today at Booth S469 in Sands Expo and will make it available in December.
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Socket Communication Inc. ( http://www.socketcom.com/ ) has developed the Mobile Email PocketPak, which connects a Pocket PC to a mobile phone and allows the phone to function as a wireless modem. In addition to including Socket’s Digital Phone Card, this PocketPak comes with software that lets users connect wirelessly to the Internet and run e-mail in one easy step. Initial versions of the Mobile Email PocketPak will support phones from Motorola Inc., Qualcomm Inc., Samsung and Sprint PCS. Socket’s Ethernet PocketPak includes its Low Power Ethernet Card, which connects a Pocket PC to a partner PC from any location on a campus network. Once connected, Pocket PC users can take advantage of their organization’s high-speed network infrastructure to perform common tasks such as synchronizing, sending e-mail, browsing the Web and exchanging files.
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Targus
Inc. ( http://www.targus.com/ ) has teamed with Socket Communications to produce a line of PocketPaks, including the Low Power Ethernet Card, a Serial Input/Output Card, and a family of Wireless Web Cards. The Wireless Web Cards connect Pocket PCs with data-capable mobile phones made by Motorola, Qualcomm,
Samsung, Sprint PCS and others for wireless Web browsing and e-mail capabilities. In addition, a PC-Card adapter allows the Wireless Web Cards to be used with notebook computers. Targus also offers a Stowaway Portable Keyboard for the HP Jornada. In addition, Targus today announced the Targus Pocket Modem Card PocketPak, a CompactFlash V.90 56K modem card that enables high-speed portable connectivity with minimal power drain for sending and receiving e-mail messages and accessing the Web via handheld devices.
Pricing and Availability
The Entertainment PocketPak is available today online at http://www.pocketpc.com/ for an estimated retail price of $29.95 (U.S). Information on all PocketPaks can be found at the above companies’ Web sites and at http://www.mobileplanet.com/pocketpaks/ .
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
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The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
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