| Bsquare offers 'Power Handheld' reference design |
Sep. 04, 2002
 Bellevue, WA -- (press release excerpt) -- Bsquare Corp. today announced the Power Handheld reference design, a turn-key design solution that incorporates the latest technologies from Intel and Microsoft. The Power Handheld reference design will be unveiled for the first time at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) Conference (September 9-13, San Jose Convention Center) and highlighted during keynote addresses by Intel executives.
The Power Handheld reference design is the first mobile device to feature a VGA display that presents web pages like a laptop, a retractable QWERTY thumb-type keyboard, GSM cell phone, and built-in radio technology to access high-speed, always-on GPRS wireless data networks -- all in a very small handheld form factor. Designed to meet the needs of mobile professionals, Bsquare's Power Handheld reference design provides carriers with an important new tool for attracting enterprise customers and offering exciting devices to complement their data networks.
The new reference design includes a comprehensive suite of productivity software applications and an integrated operating system software framework that emphasizes messaging such as email, SMS, IM and voice and supports the delivery of wireless data services. The Power Handheld allows enterprises to immediately extend their custom productivity applications to a wireless device without having to revise them to fit a small screen. Carriers and other service providers can quickly customize the white-label device and bring it to market with monthly service plans that bundle wireless voice and data services, enhancing monthly Average Revenue Per User (ARPU).
Hardware
Bsquare's new Power Handheld reference design is extremely light and compact, weighing approximately 19 oz. with battery, and measuring 5.5 x 3.4 x 0.77 in. It features the Intel XScale PXA250 processor running at up to 400MHz, 64MB RAM, and 32MB Flash memory. Additional storage is available via one SD memory card (up to 256MB).
The backlit four-inch color LCD (TFT) screen is capable of displaying 65k colors with VGA resolution (640 x 480 pixels) in landscape mode. Full VGA resolution allows users to view web pages, email attachments, spreadsheets, and other documents nearly a full page at a time. The slide-out (retractable) QWERTY thumb-type keyboard allows for easy input of text, while a touch-sensitive display allows for stylus input.
Other input and ergonomic features include two dedicated phone buttons (talk, end); three programmable launch buttons (email, web, start/today); four dedicated navigation buttons; five-way joystick; back/ESC button; one dedicated button for integrated 2x zoom capability; and an onboard microphone and headset microphone for audio input. The unit also incorporates a 2.5mm jack for an included accessory headset with microphone, volume, and on/off control for phone or stereo music.
An integrated dual-band GSM cell phone allows for speakerphone or headset operation, and supports advanced phone features normally found only on multi-line desktop phones. The GPRS (2.5G) Multislot 8, Class B module sends and receives wireless data across mobile telephone networks to provide worldwide remote connectivity. The integrated rechargeable Lithium Ion battery has approximately 1900mAh of capacity for hours of continuous web browsing.
Software
The Bsquare Power Handheld reference design enhances user productivity with the industry's first true web experience on a handheld device. Users view full web pages in color VGA resolution using the Microsoft Internet Explorer browser (version 5.5) and popular plug-ins like Macromedia Flash, Java JVM, Windows Media Player, and PDF viewer.
Integrated messaging capabilities include both SMS and MSN Messenger Service. A full suite of productivity applications provides the functionality normally associated with Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). These include an Outlook-compatible Personal Information Manager (PIM) with contacts, calendar, and tasks; Microsoft PocketWord; Excel-compatible spreadsheet calculator; and phone dialer/phone center.
The Power Handheld reference design incorporates Bsquare's remote device management technology. Remote management enables carriers to roll-out new features and applications, and reduces the risk of expensive product recalls by permitting devices to accept remote updates.
The Power Handheld reference design uses the Windows CE .NET operating system, allowing Bsquare to modify the software to meet specific OEM or carrier customer requirements. Bsquare offers a full range of customization services through its Professional Engineering Services group.
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