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Itronix's tablet PC gets rugged

Posted on: Sunday, 8 June 2003, 06:00 CDT

Spokane's Itronix Corp. is introducing a lightweight rugged version of the Tablet PC.

The company designs and makes rugged and ultrarugged laptops and handhelds. This is the first Tablet PC developed by Itronix.

Tablet PCs, introduced last year by several manufacturers, are larger than handheld computers but come equipped with improved features built into Windows XP.

Itronix's GoBook Tablet PC measures 10 by 7 by 1.5 inches. Its suggested price is $2,995.

Company Marketing Vice President Matt Gerber said the unit fills a need for high-performance wireless PCs that provide full mobility for the company's corporate customers.

Early sales will likely go to a European railway, a phone company and the U.S. Air Force, he said.

The Tablet PCs won't be available for delivery until this fall. "Our customers take a while for product evaluation," said Gerber. "We wanted to launch early to provide more time and get out in front of the purchase cycle," he added.

For more information, go to www.itronix.com.

Cell enhancement

Even as wireless companies pack a slew of new features into cell phones, most consumers remain more interested in seeing improvements in basics like battery life and sound quality, according to a new study.

A recent report from the A.T. Kearney consulting firm and Cambridge University's business school had some good news for mobile phone companies, which have spent billions upgrading their networks to facilitate data-rich applications.

For example, 42 percent of teenagers surveyed said they would be willing to pay at least $1 to send a photo message from their wireless phone.

The study of 5,600 mobile phone subscribers in 15 countries also found that more than one-third used their handsets to get on the Internet at least once a month.

More than 60 percent of the subscribers surveyed said they want phone makers to lengthen battery life and improve sound quality before adding new features.

Microsoft, VeriSign team up

Microsoft Corp. and VeriSign Inc. will jointly develop security software, the companies announced last week.

Their next-generation software will focus on improving access security for remote connections and wireless networks. The new platform is expected to be available later this year.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft also said it created a new certification program for network security. The training will be offered as an additional specialty to the popular Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer program.

Microsoft R&D spending to hit $1.7 billion

Microsoft said last week that it will invest more than $1.7 billion in its next fiscal year for research and development of its Microsoft Windows Server System, the company's family of server software. In addition, the company said it will invest $450 million in community-based efforts that support information technology professionals and developers.

AOL adds a new area to site

America Online has launched a new area on its service pitched at African-Americans, according to Leslie Walker of The Washington Post. Called "AOL Black Focus," the area (AOL keyword: Black focus) includes its own chats, message boards and groups, plus content culled from such partners as magazines Black Enterprise and Heart & Soul.

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