Press Room
palmOne Canada Expands Reach of Bluetooth Technology-enabled Handhelds With Wi-Fi Connectivity
First Wi-Fi Card From palmOne Provides Tungsten T3 and Zire 72 Handheld Users With Second Level of Wireless Connectivity
TORONTO, August 17, 2004 – palmOne Canada is providing
a second level of wireless connectivity for Tungsten™
T3 and Zire™ 72 handheld users with the introduction
of its first Wi-Fi card. Developed specifically for handheld
owners who want to complement the integrated Bluetooth®
technology solutions of the Zire 72 and Tungsten T3 handhelds,
the Wi-Fi card contains a built-in 802.11b radio that lets
users set up and quickly connect to the Internet anytime
they are within range of a Wi-Fi access point or hotspot.(1)
Today, people who need continuous connectivity get it through
multiple network solutions, depending on where they are
and what they're trying to do. While Bluetooth technology
can wirelessly link devices within 30 feet of each other,
Wi-Fi can provide faster, reliable and secure wireless access
to business, personal or public networks within 100-300
feet of a wireless access point.
Wi-Fi access points, or hotspots, are quickly becoming commonplace.
What started out as a technology for large businesses and
business travelers is increasingly available in coffee houses,
libraries and parks. Today, there are more than 10,000 public
hotspots in the United States alone; that number is likely
to increase to 65,000 by 2008, according to IDC, a research
firm in Framingham, Mass.
"With the expansion of hotspots and Wi-Fi networks
in homes and in businesses, we felt it was important to
offer our mobile handheld users another compelling Wi-Fi
solution," said Michael Moskowitz, president and general
manager, palmOne Canada. "Our accessories business
looks for opportunities to enable our users with new, innovative
solutions that will make a difference at work and at home."
For customers requiring built-in Wi-Fi capabilities, palmOne
offers the Tungsten C handheld. This powerful PDA, designed
to manage data-intensive applications, incorporates a built-in
keyboard and a 320 x 320 transflective TFT display.
Four Easy Steps for Setting Up Wi-Fi on Tungsten T3 and
Zire 72 Handhelds
The Wi-Fi card from palmOne makes connecting to the Internet
easy by allowing users to access a nearby Wi-Fi access point
in four easy steps:
• Insert the card into the SDIO slot of a Tungsten
T3 or Zire 72 handheld.
• Tap on the "Wi-Fi setup" icon on the home
page.
• The Wi-Fi setup application will search for available
networks and display the options it finds.
• The user selects the network, and the device makes
the connection.
(NOTE: If the network that the user wants doesn't appear
on the list of available networks, secure Wi-Fi networks
also can be accessed by tapping "Other" and entering
the network name and encryption code, if necessary.)
Pricing and Availability
The $199.95 (estimated Canadian price) Wi-Fi card from palmOne
is scheduled to be available from palmOne's online store
(http://canadastore.palmone.com)
and in retail stores in most countries worldwide in early
September.
(1) An Internet service provider
account, email account and subscription may be required
for Internet and email access. These services may need to
be purchased separately.
About palmOne, Inc.
More information about palmOne, Inc. is available at http://www.palmOne.com
NOTE: palmOne, Tungsten and Zire are among the trademarks
or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to palmOne,
Inc. or its subsidiaries. The Bluetooth word mark and logos
are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such
marks by palmOne, Inc. is under license. All other brand
and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used
to identify products or services of, their respective owners.
SOURCE palmOne, Inc.
