New Products For Mobile Workers -- May 2006

Talk Is Cheap
With the Motorola VT2442, the latest product from the Motorola and Vonage collaboration, users can create a network even when they’re out of the office. The VT2442 is a small and fully portable Internet phone adapter pre-configured with Vonage’s phone service. By plugging the adapter into any broadband Internet connection and connecting a mobile phone, computer or fax machine, users can simultaneously hook up to a high-speed Internet connection via two
standard telephone jacks. The VT2442 can connect up to two Vonage phone lines, and the included networking router can support Internet connections for up to four PCs. Additionally, the VT2442 includes an advanced firewall for Internet security and offers all of the same features available to Vonage subscribers. Price: $79.99. www.vonage.com

Suite Harmony
Avanquest’s new BVRP Mobile Phone Suite keeps your laptop and mobile phone in sync while on the road. The program makes it possible to use any GPRS-compatible mobile phone as a modem, ensuring Internet connections in more places. Users can coordinate PC and phone contacts and calendars in Outlook, send multimedia messages, identify a phone’s model and brand and check a phone’s available memory space, all via any Intel Centrino–embedded laptop. Price: Starts at $19.99. www.bvrp.com

Xplore the Outdoors
Xplore Technologies’ new Dual Mode AllVue Tablet PC iX104C2DV may be a mouthful, but its appeal to mobile workers in rugged environments is obvious. Xplore’s entire rugged Tablet PC line is designed to meet U.S. Military environmental standards and can withstand severe temperatures, moisture and drops of up to four feet. Users can automatically switch between a stylus input and finger-based touch input, thanks to a patent-pending auto-sensing technology, and the AllVue LCD screen increases readability in a variety of lighting conditions. Price: Starts at $3,299. www.xploretech.com

Security Assured
Never lose another night of sleep worrying that your data may not be secure. O3SIS IT, AG’s new SyncML synchronization client for Pocket PCs and Windows Mobile Smart Phones, enables quick and easy data backup. Data can be transferred between devices and from a mobile device directly to a secure server. A lost or stolen device can immediately be locked, and data can be transferred to a new phone within minutes. SyncML also allows users to wirelessly synchronize PIM data and other items in Outlook. Price: Starts at $25. www.o3sis.com

Ultra-Informed
Pharos’ iGPS-500 provides location and navigation capabilities to Microsoft’s new line of Ultra Mobile PCs. At a mere 36 by 33 millimeters, and significantly smaller than its predecessor, the iGPS-360, the 500 chip adds GPS technology to any Ultra Mobile device via a USB port, CompactFlash or Bluetooth connection. In addition, the iGPS-500 features the highly sensitive SiRFstarIII GPS architecture and a rapid time-to-first-fix. The iGPS-500 is highly compatible with Microsoft Streets & Trips 2006, AutoRoute 2006 and MapPoint software. Price: Starts at $99.
www.pharosgps.com

Connectivity King
RIM’s latest version of the omnipresent BlackBerry, the 8700g, offers more than just the standard menu of email, phone and Internet browsing options. The 8700g model features a reengineered device platform for an improved user experience, an Intel processor, 64 MB of memory and faster Web browsing and attachment viewing. Quadband networks offer support for Bluetooth capabilities and 13 EDGE networks.

In addition, light-sensing technology automatically optimizes screen lighting levels, so the bright, high-resolution screen can be easily viewed indoors and out. Price: TBA. www.rim.com

Portable Powerhouse
At 5.26 pounds and less than one inch thick, Gateway’s small and lightweight new E-M255 notebook offers the latest in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi technologies, a 14.1-inch WXGA widescreen and four Intel Core Duo Processors for rapid multi-tasking. An integrated hot-swap modular bay can support a variety of drives, and a smart card reader can lessen security risks by requiring identity authentication. The E-M255 has a battery life of up to nine hours on a single charge, using high-capacity and modular bay batteries. Price: $1,399. www.gateway.com