(Click here for a larger view of the Redfly Mobile Companion)In dimensions, weight, and price, the Redfly resembles mini-laptops such as the
Asus Eee PC. Unlike any laptop, however, the Redfly stores no applications, data, or settings of its own. Instead, it merely acts as a keyboard and screen for a Windows Mobile phone, to which it connects via USB or Bluetooth 2.0.
Touted advantages include battery life of more than eight hours, plus the fact that the device poses no security risk if it is lost or stolen. In addition, claims Celio, enterprise administrators need do nothing to support the Redfly, other than one-time installation of a software driver on the phone.
The driver compresses data and manages communication between the phone and the Redfly. Windows Mobile applications such as Internet Explorer scale themselves to the Redfly's eight-inch 800 x 480 screen. Meanwhile, a VGA port allows connection to video projectors or other external displays.
The Redfly has a touchpad and 80-key QWERTY keyboard, with function keys that offer control of standard phone functions such as send, end, OK, and escape. For further details, see our earlier coverage,
here.
In today's announcement, Celio said it will add compatibility with Windows Mobile 6.1, and provide support for the following additional phones:
- HP-- iPAQ 910
- HTC:
- Motorola:
- Palm -- Treo 750
- Samsung:
Phones previously said to be compatible with the Redfly are HTC's Tilt, Mogul, and XV6800, Palm's 700w, and Samsung's SCH-i760.
Kirt Bailey, Celio president and CEO, said "because of the variation in smartphone designs and the sophistication of the Redfly software, each phone requires individual development and testing. Many of the additional phones are in beta today, and software will be released for individual phones during Q2."
Initial reviewsSince first announcing the Redfly at January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Celio has gotten the device into the hands of several reviewers, including Ed Hardy of Brighthand.com, James Kendrick of JKOnTheRun, and Matthew Miller of ZDNet. The reviews provide product images and YouTube videos of the device in operation.
According to the reviews, the device may not appeal to "technorati" who like to tinker and provide their own IT support. Also, with little multimedia support, isn't "fun." But, they add, it presents a significant cost-saving opportunity for enterprises who have already issued their employees Windows Mobile phones.
To read the reviews on Brighthand, JKOnTheRun, and ZDNet, go
here,
here, and
here, respectively.
Further informationThe Redfly costs $500, and initial customer shipments will take place this month, Celio says. Ordering information can be found on the company's website,
here.
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