New Products for Mobile Workers -- May 2007

Shift Into UMPC Mode
HTC is lightening the load for mobile professionals with the introduction of the Shift, an ultra-mobile PC with a QWERTY keyboard and 3G connectivity. Similar in size to a couple of DVD cases, the Shift comes with Windows Vista Business and features a 7-inch widescreen touch display and a 30-gigabyte hard drive.
The device features high-speed global connectivity with tri-band UMTS/HSDPA, quad-band GSM/GPRS/EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0 and WiFi. It also includes a 1.2 megapixel camera (mounted on the front), which can be used for video calls in 3G networks. Price: TBD. www.htc.com

Digital Assistant that Does It All
Built from the inside-out for voice and data communications, the MC35 Enterprise Digital Assistant brings together a mobile phone, laptop, camera and bar code scanner in a business-rugged casing. Ideal for field technicians, mobile salespeople and delivery workers, the MC35 features a large display for easier reading of emails, a built-in GPS system and push-to-talk functionality. It can connect to a wireless LAN via 802.11b for data communications, and built-in Bluetooth lets users connect wirelessly to printers and other peripherals. Price: Starts at $640. www.motorola.com

No Repeats with this Parrot
Parrot is introducing new technology to the boardroom. The Parrot Conference Bluetooth wireless speakerphone features three microphones to provide 360-degree voice pickup and a 5-watt speaker to foster conversations in normal tones. Three rechargeable Ni-MH batteries provide 10 hours of continuous talk time and turn the speakerphone into a mobile tool that can travel from office to conference room. With VoIP software and an integrated Skype interface, this Parrot can store up to 6,000 contacts that can be wirelessly loaded via Bluetooth-enabled cell phones, PDAs and laptops. Price: $299. www.parrot.com //