| "Companion" supports new phones |
Aug. 14, 2008
 Celio Corporation has announced additional driver support for its laptop-like add-on for Windows Mobile smartphones. The Redfly Mobile Companion now supports 19 different Windows Mobile devices, and has also received a price cut to $400, according to Celio.
(Click here for a larger view of the Redfly Mobile Companion)
The Redfly -- first announced in January for $500 -- resembles a netbook in its basic form factor, size (9 x 6 x 1 inches), and weight (two pounds). But, as Celio hastens to point out, the Redfly actually offers fundamentally different technology. By design, it offers minimal processing power, and 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 gets connected via USB or Bluetooth 2.0.
The Redfly acts as a keyboard, screen, and charger for a connected Windows Mobile phone
A software driver compresses data and manages communication between the phone and the Redfly. Windows Mobile applications such as Excel scale themselves to the Redfly's eight-inch 800 x 480 screen (shown above). Meanwhile, there's an 80-key QWERTY keyboard, plus a VGA port that can connect to video projectors or other external displays.
The Redfly additionally includes function keys that let it control standard phone functions such as send, end, OK, and escape. For this and other reasons, a phone-specific software driver is required for each supported device, according to Celio.
In May, the company announced Windows Mobile 6.1 compatibility and support for an initial collection of phones, including devices from HP, HTC, Motorola, Palm, and Samsung. This week, it released an expanded list of compatible phones and carriers, as follows:- HP -- iPAQ 910
- HTC:
- Palm:
- Motorola:
- Samsung:
Background
Touted advantages of the Redfly 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 the software driver on the phone it's going to be used with. For further details, see our earlier coverage, here.
Kirt Bailey, CEO of Celio, says "When compared to a laptop, netbook or UMPC, Redfly offers a 90 percent TCO savings, while providing most of the same functionality and increased productivity for the mobile workforce. Our customers find it easier and much more productive using Redfly to access remote desktops, servers, applications and virtualized environments, compared to using a smartphone alone."
A number of reviews of the Redfly have appeared, featuring product images and YouTube videos of the device in operation. Thes include articles by Ed Hardy of Brighthand.com, James Kendrick of JKOnTheRun, Matthew Miller of ZDNet, and, most recently, Alun Taylor of Register Hardware. 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, it isn't "fun." In addition, third-party Windows Mobile user interfaces pose compatibility problems, even on the supported devices. But, reviewers concede, the device may present a significant cost-saving opportunity for enterprises who have already issued their employees Windows Mobile phones.
To read the reviews on Brighthand, JKOnTheRun, ZDNet, or Register Hardware, go here, here, here, or here, respectively.
The Redfly costs $399 and is available now, according to Celio.
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