Full-Function General-Purpose Laptops

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We are all familiar with laptop PCs running operating systems such as Windows 98 or MacOS. You get general-purpose computing, but are stuck with greater weight (three to eight lbs.) and limited battery life (two to five hours). These types of computers offer the greatest number of options for communications (including modem, wireless, Ethernet, cable modems and DSL connections) because they support standard networking hardware and software. But, they are also less mobile than their smaller cousins.

Limited-Function General-Purpose Computers
These are scaled-back systems optimized for weight and longer battery life. Examples include computers that look like subnotebooks but are based on Windows CE. Weighing only a pound, users can get eight hours of battery life. A VGA type of display with an almost full-size keyboard provides a reasonable user interface for skinny versions of standard office productivity applications, such as Microsoft Office. Communications options are good, but require versions of communication software that explicitly support the platform. Hardware such as wireless modems or wireless LAN cards need appropriate drivers, but most wireless and modem communications companies are working to support this platform.

Handheld Computers
The two current platforms dominating this part of the market are the PalmPilot and handheld computers based on Windows CE. Both support modem communications and both support wireless communications with specific networks. The Palm VII, as shown in Figure 2, has a built-in wireless modem that operates with the BellSouth Wireless Data network. The Palm unit currently uses the Palm OS, but Java may be an option in the future.

Companies such as Telxon and Symbol Technologies that supply handheld systems for vertical markets, such as warehousing, have their own handheld systems traditionally based on MS-DOS. These companies are now migrating to the Windows CE and PalmPilot platforms.

Figure 2: Palm VII

Smart Phones
The advantage of a smart phone is that by definition it comes with a communications channel built in. There are two types.

One type has a computing platform that supports a variety of applications. Examples include the Nokia 9000 product family (which flips open to reveal a complete, though tiny, keyboard) and the Qualcomm pdQ CDMA Digital Smart Phone based on the PalmPilot platform. WinCE will also start appearing in smart phones.

The other type includes a microbrowser for accessing Web content. An example is the PocketNet phone from AT&T Wireless Services, as shown in Figure 3. Web access is via a gateway operated by the cellular carrier and Web content must be formatted specifically for the platform. In the future, these types of phones will use a standard set of communications and scripting protocols called Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). By 2000, a good percentage of cell phones sold will come with WAP browsers built-in. As for operating systems, many will be based on either the EPOC operating system from Symbian or Windows CE from Microsoft.

Figure 3: PocketNet phone
Messaging Devices
The last type of platform is gathering increasing attention. These are small messaging devices about the size of an alphanumeric pager. Examples include the PageWriter 2500 from Motorola and the RIM Inter@ctive pager from Research in Motion. See Figure 4. These devices operate on two-way paging networks or wireless WANs such as BellSouth Wireless Data or ARDIS. Service includes e-mail intelligently forwarded from corporate e-mail systems or from the Internet and select Web content.

Figure 4: RIM Inter@ctive Pager