Wireless handsets make headlines at CES 2002

Although the Consumer Electronics Show is not traditionally the biggest venue for wireless, this year’s event in Las Vegas showcased a slew of innovations in the sector.

Sprint PCS introduced a corporate e-mail solution called Business Connection Personal Edition, which it will make available later this quarter. The carrier is working with Seven’s mobile software architecture.

Because the architecture resides directly on Sprint PCS’s network, “the carrier can offer customers a simple service delivery model that does not require large-scale installations of new infrastructure,” said Bill Nguyen, Seven’s founder and president. Compatible with Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes, the software is designed to let customers quickly register for real-time mobile access to their enterprise applications. In addition, consumers will be able to access and send files stored on a computer hard drive while mobile without requiring synchronization later.

The Sprint PCS e-mail solution also will be compatible with the carrier’s third-generation network when it launches in mid-2002. Sprint PCS also discussed plans to begin selling Java-enabled Hitachi phones by mid-2002 in the United States, while Nokia introduced a phone that will work simultaneously on GSM and TDMA networks. Both Hitachi and Nokia phones are expected to be compatible with current wireless networks as well as the high-speed networks Cingular Wireless, Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless are promising to launch this year.

Audiovox Communications previewed its first GPS-enabled, 3G handset. The 9155GPX is a CDMA tri-mode phone, which operates on 800 MHz CDMA, 1900 MHz PCS and 800 MHz AMPS. It’s Web-enabled, 1XRTT-capable and comes equipped with the MSM5100 chipset, which provides GPS capability. Audiovox also introduced its first Pocket PC called Maestro, which combines Microsoft Windows Pocket PC 2002 software with advanced wireless capabilities.

In Bluetooth news, Plantronics announced its new M1500 Cordless Headset Solution with Bluetooth wireless technology, which includes a cordless headset and Bluetooth adapter that plugs directly into the headset jack of most cellular phones. Correction: In “Up for Grabs” (Dec. 15, 2001), Tahoe co-founders Anthony Alles and Arthur Line sold Shasta Networks to Nortel, not Lucent. Also, Alan Cohen is vice president of marketing. Wireless handsets make headlines at CES 2002 Although the Consumer Electronics Show is not traditionally the biggest venue for wireless, this year’s event in Las Vegas showcased a slew of innovations in the sector. Sprint PCS introduced a corporate e-mail solution called Business Connection Personal Edition, which it will make available later this quarter. The carrier is working with Seven’s mobile software architecture. Because the architecture resides directly on Sprint PCS’s network, “the carrier can offer customers a simple service delivery model that does not require large-scale installations of new infrastructure,” said Bill Nguyen, Seven’s founder and president. Compatible with Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes, the software is designed to let customers quickly register for real-time mobile access to their enterprise applications. In addition, consumers will be able to access and send files stored on a computer hard drive while mobile without requiring synchronization later. The Sprint PCS e-mail solution also will be compatible with the carrier’s third-generation network when it launches in mid-2002. Sprint PCS also discussed plans to begin selling Java-enabled Hitachi phones by mid-2002 in the United States, while Nokia introduced a phone that will work simultaneously on GSM and TDMA networks. Both Hitachi and Nokia phones are expected to be compatible with current wireless networks as well as the high-speed networks Cingular Wireless, Sprint PCS and Verizon Wireless are promising to launch this year. Audiovox Communications previewed its first GPS-enabled, 3G handset. The 9155GPX is a CDMA tri-mode phone, which operates on 800 MHz CDMA, 1900 MHz PCS and 800 MHz AMPS. It’s Web-enabled, 1XRTT-capable and comes equipped with the MSM5100 chipset, which provides GPS capability. Audiovox also introduced its first Pocket PC called Maestro, which combines Microsoft Windows Pocket PC 2002 software with advanced wireless capabilities. In Bluetooth news, Plantronics announced its new M1500 Cordless Headset Solution with Bluetooth wireless technology, which includes a cordless headset and Bluetooth adapter that plugs directly into the headset jack of most cellular phones. --Kelly Carroll Correction: In “Up for Grabs” (Dec. 15, 2001), Tahoe co-founders Anthony Alles and Arthur Line sold Shasta Networks to Nortel, not Lucent. Also, Alan Cohen is vice president of marketing.