| Planet
PDA Best Of Show Award Winners |
 Planet
PDA, sponsored by TMC's Internet Telephony, Communications
Solutions, Customer Inter@ction Solutions, Communications
Outsourcing, and Planet PDA magazines, is pleased to announce its
Best Of Show awards for outstanding products and services demonstrated
at our 2001 show in Las Vegas, NV.
The
Winners
Best Wireless Development
Platform: Air2Web Mobile Internet Platform
Air2Web offers one of the
most powerful, comprehensive, and flexible platforms for wirelessly
extending enterprise information systems and corporate data across any
carrier, any network, and 100 percent of the digital device market. The
company's Mobile Internet Platform delivers advanced use of text and
audio, optimizes device functionality, and provides a high level of
security. The platform employs open standards to leverage back-end
enterprise information systems, including e-mail, Enterprise Application
Integration (EAI), Sales Force Automation (SFA), Customer Relationship
Management (CRM), Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and Supply Chain
Management (SCM). A long roster of customers includes Six Continents
Hotels, United Parcel Service, ABN-AMRO Bank, Lexmark, and The Weather
Channel.
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Best Palm Wireless
Accessory: Motient MobileModem
If you love your Palm V/Vx, you'll love it even more if you give
it wireless Internet access with Motient's
new MobileModem for the Palm V series. The compact MobileModem will
liberate the estimated five million devoted Palm V series users with the
availability of wireless e-mail access through their handhelds. The
MobileModem is always on, automatically "waking up" with each
incoming message, just like a Blackberry.
When coupled with Motient's nationwide
wireless data network, MobileModem users get the best of Palm, along
with some nifty additional features. The MobileModem provides the
ability to compose, receive, read, and reply to e-mail from the Palm,
using a corporate e-mail address or a personalized vanity address. With
the Palm HotSync feature, users are able to simultaneously activate both
the Palm and the MobileModem for effortless desktop synchronization - no
cradle" or desktop clutter required. The MobileModem weighs only
four ounces and comes with a Smart-Sync cable that simultaneously
recharges both the Palm and the MobileModem.
The Motient
network reaches 99 percent of the top 565 most populated U.S. cities
including Atlanta, Kansas City, and New Orleans. The network covers more
than 220 million people! The MobileModem is priced at only $179, with a
12 month service agreement.
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Best P2P Application
Server: Zeosoft Zeosphere/ZeoFusion
ZeoSphere, a lightweight application server for wireless
handheld computing devices, allows direct device-to-device data queries
and application requests with or without a connection to the enterprise.
Its unique technology makes peer-to-peer and peer-to-enterprise servers
out of wireless handheld computing devices, allowing them to become
n-tier distributed computing systems in their own right, accessing each
other's databases, applications, and other device-bound services as
though they were office servers, data center servers, or legacy
computers. It's true mobile computing anywhere, anytime.
Riding on top of ZeoSphere is an
enterprise-based distributed decision flow and inference engine called
ZeoFusion, which enables true end-to-end enterprise process integration.
It allows enterprise-computing systems to extend processes to handheld
devices where device-resident processing occurs. It also permits
ZeoSphere-enabled handheld devices to make enterprise requests, which
can invoke enterprise-based processes or queries. ZeoFusion uses an
integrated rules and inference engine to intelligently interact with
both the enterprise and handheld device. For more info, go to www.zeosoft.com.
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Best Pocket PC Web Server:
SalesPage Technologies Pocket SalesPage
SalesPage Technologies'
Pocket SalesPage is a powerful XML-based product suite that can empower
the mobilization of any enterprise application. Based on a
programming-free XML app scheme foundation, Pocket SalesPage leverages
Web-based technologies and services to transform sophisticated and
rapidly changing business models into serious line-of-business solutions
for the Pocket PC.
Designed for enterprise-class
implementations, Pocket SalesPage supports Pocket Access and SQL Server
2000 CE, with future support planned for Oracle Lite and DB2 Everyplace.
The Pocket SalesPage product suite includes the XML-based Pocket
SalesPage Studio; Pocket .space Server - a compact Web/app server for
the Pocket PC; and supporting utilities.
Available for always on and occasionally
disconnected use, Pocket SalesPage includes full synchronization and
wireless optimization features. Available out-of-the-box, vertical
solutions include pocket.open.space, pocket.fund.space,
pocket.consulting.space, and pocket.manufacturing.space.
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Best Smart Clothing: Scott
eVest Version 1.0
No, it won't carry on a conversation, or help you decipher the
latest technical spec sheet for that new Pocket PC, but it does let you
carry all of your hi-tech gadgets (as well as your keys, wallet, water
bottle, and other stuff) and stay connected on the go.
What makes the Scott
eVest special is not that it looks like just about any North Face
vest, but that looks are indeed deceiving. The Scott eVest features a
patent-pending "Personal Area Network" (Scott's words, not
ours - ed) that allows you to channel messy wires through a conduit
system, leading either to a loop in the collar for your earbuds or
connecting one device to another. At the show, we caught a sneak peek at
Scott eVest version 2.0. Version 2.0 features zip-off long sleeves,
micro fiber fabric, and a pocket in the back to balance the weight of
all the devices you'll be carrying around. Look for it around Spring
2002.
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Best Pocket PC Wireless
Application: Venue Maitre' D
Venue Maitre' D is a
suite of wireless (802.11b), interactive services designed for the
Pocket PC platforms to inform, entertain, and promote ad-hoc
within-venue communities and facilitate transactions such as shopping,
reservations, and the sharing of contact information. The company
developed an incredibly impressive application specifically for Planet
PDA, running over the show's wireless LAN, to provide conference and
meeting agendas, speaker information, local Las Vegas shopping and
dining options, and a killer executive networking application.
One of the applications, VenueChat, is a
unique chat application with a multi-modal user interface that supports
stylus tap, scribble, or voice recording all from one easy to use
screen. Replying to e-mail messages using the multi-modal interface
allows you to send colorful scribbled notes or a voice message, which
are then sent as attachments for easy access by others.
VenueMatch is another unique service.
First conference attendees fill in a profile from their homes, offices,
or at the trade show floor. Venue Maitre' D goes to work and matches
your profile against those at the same trade show. When a match occurs,
you are paged or phoned an SMS message, buzzed at your PDA or e-mailed a
match notification alert. From your handheld or laptop, you can review
the matched profile prior to establishing actual contact.
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Best Pocket PC Add-On: HP
Jornada I/O Battery
Ok, you're asking how we can get so excited about a battery. If
you're a Pocket PC user, you already know how important battery/power
issues are. For those of you used to battery life spans of 3 weeks or
more with your Palm or Blackberry, the Pocket PC constitutes a sort of
rude awakening. All of that newfound functionality comes at a cost -- a
cost of much shorter battery life and the need to plan ahead even on
short business trips, as most Pocket PCs only have enough power for at
most 14 hours.
HP's
add-on extra battery helps ease the pain. When attached to the back of
the Jornada, the add-on battery extends battery life up to 14 hours --
the longest of any Pocket PC. But that's not all -- and here lies the
real kicker. Some genius at HP decided that adding power was good, but
not good enough, as most PPC users are going gaga over add-on memory
cards for a host of additional features and functionality. So, the
add-on battery also sports an SD (Secure Digital) card slot. As far as
we know, this is the first I/O PDA battery of its kind, and as such
merits our deep admiration.
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Best Mapping Database:
Navigation Technologies
Navigation Technologies is
a provider of digital map data for vehicle navigation, Internet and
wireless applications and business solutions. Applications such as these
are part of a growing set that enhance a businessperson's access to
information while they are mobile and on the road. The company has
actually coined a term "informed mobility" to represent this
emerging need.
Informed mobility applications are
dependent on precise, up-to-date digital navigation information.
Navigation Technologies has built a superb database by employing the
industry's most extensive development and quality control program,
executed by one of the largest team of geographers of any company in the
world. This detailed map data is captured by over 400 full time
professional Navigation Technologies employees, who drive millions of
miles a year on the roads in North America, Europe, and targeted markets
to provide accurate and ever-expanding detail to the NAVTECH database.
The result of Navigation Technology's
digital map creation and quality control processes is a detailed,
digital representation of the road network that provides the depth,
accuracy and coverage needed to enable turn-by-turn, door-to-door route
guidance. Included in the database information are up to 150 road
attributes per road segment and more than 45 point of interest
categories to help you find specific restaurants, hotels, airports,
banks, shopping centers, and more.
NAVTECH data is used in virtually all of
the leading navigation systems in both North America and Europe. The
company's customers rely on NAVTECH digital map information for use in
their applications based on its accuracy, detail, and completeness.
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Best Hybrid: Handspring
Treo
We're enamored of so-called PDA/wireless phone hybrid devices
for the simple reason that we believe the combination to be as natural
as butter on toast. The problem with most of these devices, however, is
that the resulting package is either too bulky or cuts the corners on
necessary, even essential functions.
The Treo 180 from Handspring
is one of the first combo devices to get it right. When it comes to a
PCS phone (Treo currently only supports the GSM network), you get a
fairly slim (2.7 inches wide and 4.3 inches long) clamshell style
device. But lift the clear lid and the fun really starts. The familiar
Palm screen looks back at you, offering all the functionality of these
popular handhelds. But wait, there's more. The Treo adds a small but
usable keyboard, like the Blackberry, for data input and e-mail
composition. Other notable features includes the ability to remap the
last button on the bottom to function as a POP3 e-mail activator, the
need to tap only 3-4 times to dial out of the address book, a 1000 entry
call history (log), and already loaded Handspring Blazer mini-browser
for Web surfing.
The 180 will be available early in 2002
for around $399 with a wireless service agreement. Another version, the
180g, uses the Palm's more traditional Graffiti character recognition to
enter data. A color version costing $200 more is scheduled to arrive
around mid-year. One negative: the Treo isn't expandable and hence can't
use the various Springboard modules, such as cameras or music players,
which can be attached to other Handsprings.
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Best Wireless E-Mail
Device: Research In Motion's Blackberry
Research In Motion's
Blackberry wireless e-mail handheld family of products has attracted
a loyal and almost religious following, and for good reason. The
Blackberry is the pioneering device that was designed specifically for
wireless e-mail applications, offering users an elegant and easy to use
interface and form factor boasting an integrated full-function keyboard.
Other factors that have helped spread the
gospel according to RIM is the incredibly long battery life of the
devices (the 950 can last 3 weeks on one AA battery), the attention to a
high-level of security through data encryption, the leveraging of
Motient's nationwide wireless data network for practically seamless
coverage, and the growing list of ISV's (Independent Software Vendors)
that are leveraging the persistent, "always on, always
connected" nature of the devices to provide Internet access,
instant messaging, and enterprise-based wireless data solutions.
Currently, there are four Blackberry models available in the US -- the
compact 850/950, and the larger 857/957 -- all with integrated
keyboards, 32-bit processors, embedded RIM wireless modem, and thumb
operated trackwheels (the 850 and 857 run off of the 800 MHz DataTAC
while the 950 and 957 use the 900 MHz Mobitex networks).
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Best Telephony
Application: Avaya ECLIPS
Avaya demonstrated their
"Enterprise Class IP Solutions (ECLIPS) Voice Communication Feature
for PDAs" that works by making an IP connection from a PDA to an
enterprise DEFINITY PBX office extension. The user interface on the PDA
looks like your typical "soft phone" and enables a user to
have full control of their office phone and have at their disposal all
the features they are accustomed to in the office, including multiple
call appearances, bridging, call center features, transfer, conference,
as well as all their programmable feature keys for quick access to voice
mail, redial, etc. By utilizing VoIP technology (uses H.323), a remote
employee can still receive and make calls through their corporate PBX
simply by using the microphone and speakers on their PDA (along with an
IP connection). We saw a demonstration of Avaya's software running on an
iPAQ since it supports full multimedia and VoIP capabilities. For PDAs
that don't support multimedia (speakers/microphone), such as some Palms,
the call can also be forwarded via the soft phone interface to a cell
phone, pay phone, etc. Although not officially released, it is
undergoing trials with Avaya's customers. Nevertheless, by utilizing the
capabilities of a wireless-enabled PDA, this product will certainly
promote the concept of "one number" service.
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Best Pocket PC: Compaq
IPAQ 3850 And NEC Mobile Pro P300
The Compaq iPAQ 3800 series
improves upon Compaq's award-winning iPAQ series. The 3800 series comes
in two models - the 3850 (no integrated Bluetooth) and the 3870 which
has integrated Bluetooth support. Both models have the 206 MHz Intel
StrongARM 32-bit RISC processor and they now feature an ultra thin and
stylish profile while retaining the Compaq Expansion Pack System.
Similar to past models it supports a 64,000 Color Reflective TFT display
with 240x320 resolution. New to the 3850 is a larger ROM firmware (32MB
versus 16MB ROM) and more RAM (64MB versus 32MB). Also new to the 3800
series is an integrated SD (Secure Digital) slot and Microsoft's new
Pocket PC 2002 operating system. It also comes with an excellent
software bundle that includes IBM Via Voice Voice Command and Control of
PIM applications (Calendar, Contacts, Inbox), iPresenter PowerPoint
convertor for Pocket PC, Jeode Java Virtual Machine, and more. The 3800
series also features full-speed, worldwide wireless data and voice
capability with Wireless Pack for GSM/GPRS Network.
Tied for "Best Pocket PC" is
the NEC MobilePro P300 Pocket PC,
which was designed from the ground up and targeted at the corporate
enterprise or corporate user. For instance, the MobilePro P300 ships
with NEC's MobilePro Synchronization System for data management and
recovery. Anytime a user synchronizes with the "home base"
server, any software apps the user installed, files
modified/changed/added, memory usage, and even the remaining battery
time is transmitted to the home base server. Consequently, an IT manager
can now manage all the corporate MobilePro Pocket PCs from a centralized
location. The P300 is fairly unique in that it has a built-in
CompactFlash and Secure Digital Card slots without the need for any
expansion sleds. It features the popular StrongArm 206Mhz processor, a
reflective color 3.8" QVGA TFT display with 65,536 colors and
240x320 resolution. It even features a Host USB interface and weighs
just 6.7 ounces. An optional PC Card Expansion Jacket for use with
PCMCIA cards is available and includes an embedded rechargeable battery
so you don't drain the main battery. Finally, several third party
applications are included on the 32MB SD card, that include Westtek's
ClearVue viewers for presenting Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel
applications, Arcsoft's PhotoBase for display and management of digital
photos, and Voice Messenger Force by Ruksun for VoIP-enhanced instant
messaging.
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Best Power Product:
Instant Power Chargers For PDAs
Electric Fuel
develops, manufactures, and markets high-capacity, high power zinc air
chargers for portable consumer electronic devices, including PDAs,
cellular phones, video cameras, and digital cameras. Models include PDA
chargers for Palm, Sony, Novatel, HP, Handspring, Compaq, and Casio.
Each charger plugs directly into the PDA, weighs less than three ounces
and delivers power using Electric Fuel's patented zinc-air fuel cell
technology. Each package includes a 2" x 2.7"x 0.5"
zinc-air PowerCartridge that is activated when exposed to air, a special
SmartCord adapter that connects the universal cartridge to the specific
PDA model, and an airtight pouch designed to store the cartridge between
uses in order to preserve power for the next use. Resealed, the
PowerCartridge will last for up to three months. According to Electric
Fuel, the disposable PowerCartridge provides up to three charges and
supports hours of use.
Best Add-on Keyboard: Man & Machine
FX100 Compact Keyboard
True power PDA users don't go anywhere without their trusty add-on
keyboard for their PDA. Several companies now manufacturer keyboard
add-ons for PDAs that come in various shapes and sizes and some even
fold up. Man & Machine's
FX100 is a very interesting, "miniature" full-sized keyboard
made out of silicon that is sealed for dust-free, contaminant-free and
even water-resistant use. The keyboard is soft and pliable that can be
bent or rolled up and stuffed in your pocket. It's lightweight (2.4 oz),
measures 4mm X 85mm X 250mm or 5/32"X3 5/16"X 9 13/16".
Unlike some keyboards for PDAs, it doesn't require batteries and only
draws 1mA of power maximum. It currently supports the Compaq iPAQ, Palm,
and Handspring Visors and comes with its own carrying case.
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Best Palm OS-Based PDA:
Palm m505 And Handera 330
Palm's m505 is virtually
identical to its sibling, the m500, except that it's color and a bit
thicker (1mm), and weighs 4.8 ounces or 1.1 ounces more than the m500.
The m505 measure 4.48" x 3.03" x 0.50" (11.38cm x 7.70cm
x 1.27cm) and comes with 8MB of RAM and utilizes the 33MHz Dragonball VZ
processor as well as the new Palm 4 OS, which supports USB connectivity
(a USB docking cradle is included). The m505 has 4MB of flash ROM (for
upgrading the OS) and also has support for MultiMediaCards (MMC) and
Secure Digital (SD) cards. In addition, there's a new Universal
Connector on the bottom of the unit, which Palm says will allow you to
connect such add-on accessories as modems, MP3 players, cameras, and GPS
receivers. A vibrate feature is also included on the m505.
The biggest improvement is that unlike
its predecessors, the m505 supports color via a 160-by-160-pixel, 65,000
color, high-contrast reflective LCD. Unlike most color PDAs which
typically have just hours of usage for a single charge, Palm says you
can get about three to four weeks of battery life with normal use.
Our other winner in this category is the Handera
330 which features a 33MHz Motorola DragonBall-VZ processor, 8MB RAM,
2MB FLASH memory, the largest screen resolution of any monochrome
Palm-based PDA (240 x 320 QVGA high resolution screen), 16 Gray scale,
and a nifty 360° rotation of screen image with special applications.
The Handera 330 is one of the most
expandable Palm-based devices around with its support for CompactFlash
(CF), SD, and MMC cards. It also features a microphone for voice
recording and a built-in speaker for audio playback. One of the most
popular features is the collapsible silkscreen area, which allows you to
"minimize" the traditional Graffiti area to maximize the
amount of desktop screen real estate for displaying your application.
With its CF support, adding 802.11b wireless connectivity is a snap -
granting the Handera 330 high-speed LAN and Internet access.
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Best Mobile CRM Solution:
Siemens HiPath ProCenter mCRM
Siemens' HiPath ProCenter
Suites and Mobile CRM (mCRM) solutions () have wireless
functionality, delivering information, and capabilities to contact
center supervisors, managers or CRM Executives via PDA's, Pocket PCs,
Mobile Phones, and general SMS/WAP devices. HiPath ProCenter mCRM
applications like HiPath ProCenter MessageStream deliver real-time data
and event driven alerts on contact center performance statistics to
devices such as pagers and wireless Web-enabled telephones. With
MessageStream, the contact center is no longer restricted to information
provided to wallboards or their desktop. Mobile devices including
cellular phones, PDAs, and pagers can receive the same vital data,
allowing executives, managers, supervisors, and agents to stay informed
wherever they are. Receive alerts for oldest calls in queue, number of
calls in queue, or even the status of a specific customer waiting in
queue. One of the most powerful features is the ability for CRM
executives to wirelessly manage the HiPath ProCenter Suite anytime and
anyplace from a wireless-enabled device.
For contact center executives and
managers, Siemens solutions also provide HiPath ProCenter mCRM reports.
There are WAP and XML/XSL reports specifically pre-built to send
real-time and historical information to mobile contact center
executives, managers and supervisors. The 20+ pre-built reports are
reduced versions of complete reports that contact center managers use
today with HiPath ProCenter solutions in the contact center that have
been specifically designed for delivery to mobile devices such as Palm
units or Pocket PCs. These reports can be live, on demand, or scheduled
for delivery to wireless devices. Examples of reports are agent states,
state of calls in queue by business type, Web and e-mail performance
statistics and other contact center productivity reports. By enabling
PDAs and WAP-enabled devices to communicate, control, and report on
resources within the contact center, Siemens has a product that merits a
closer look.
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Best Synchronization
Software: Starfish
Starfish Software is a
supplier of end-to-end synchronization software and high-speed
connectivity solutions for wireless carriers, Internet portals, and
PDAs. Starfish's solutions include TrueSync Synchronization Server,
TrueSync Plus desktop synchronization software, and TrueSync for
Devices. Starfish's TrueSync solutions are integrated with enterprise
applications to provide anywhere, anytime access to any type of
corporate data.
Starfish's TrueSync solutions provide
mobile enterprise users with a seamless data synchronization experience
between a host of supported wireless and wireline devices, including
Palm OS devices, Pocket PCs, smart pagers, and mobile phones, Microsoft
Exchange Server, Lotus Notes, corporate applications, and desktop
Personal Information Managers (PIMs). One of TrueSync's unique features
is that it lets you synchronize multiple applications and devices
simultaneously. For example, we can set up TrueSync to synchronize all
of the data in our Palm device and our Outlook calendar with Yahoo!
Calendar and Yahoo! Address Book at the same time.
Data synchronization with Pocket PC 2002
devices is available in a variety of methods, including local networking
connectivity (cabled, 802.11b/Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) and remote networking
via over the air (OTA) connectivity using carrier networks, including
General Packet Radio Service networks (GPRS).
TrueSync Server accesses standard
corporate databases including Oracle and DB2 via JDBC and supports
popular transport interfaces including TCP/IP, HTTP, SyncML, and XML.
The TrueSync Server architecture enables customization via a suite of
method callbacks. Other standards supported include LDAP, Active
Directory, and SOAP.
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Best Ruggedized PDAs For
Industrial Applications: Symbol PPT 2800/ SPT 1700 Series
Symbol offers a variety of products, including WiFi cards, bar code
scanners, and various ruggedized handhelds. We were intrigued with
Symbol's PPT 2800 series, (Pocket PC-based PDAs) and the SPT 1700 Series
(Palm-based PDAs). Both series include bar code scanning and real-time
wireless communication options. Both products feature a rugged
construction-sealed to IP54 standards with 4 ft. drop to concrete. In
addition, both models can help increase productivity and efficiency in a
host of industries, such as inventory tracking, patient care, field
service, and sales force automation.
The PPT 2800 features conveniently placed
scan triggers and a high-resolution 1/4 VGA touch screen display. The
PPT 2800 Series utilizes the Intel StrongARM SA 1110 processor, running
at 206 MHz and comes with 32 MB RAM (optional 64MB RAM) and 32 MB ROM.
An Application Programming Interface (API) from Symbol makes it simple
to integrate bar code data capture and wireless communication into new
or existing applications.
The Palm-based SPT 1700 series offers
secure, two-way wide area wireless access to allow access to the
Internet and corporate LANs, send and receive e-mail, and communicate
with remote host systems through wireless WAN access. The SPT 1733 model
houses Novatel's CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) modem which uses
Wireless IP Technology -- a secure, open standard network which offers
reliable, real-time data transmission at speeds up to 19.2 Kbps.
The Palm-based SPT 1734 model is based on
GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), and features 900/1800 MHz
dual band capabilities. This offers both SMS (Short Message Service) and
real-time secure, circuit-switched data transmission at speeds up to
14.4 Kbps. Both the SPT 1733 and the SPT 1734 leverage the plethora of
existing Palm-based applications for applying mobile solutions.
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Best Security Solution:
Trust Digital PDA Secure
PDA security isn't an option -- it's a necessity. Trust
Digital's PDA Secure is an excellent product that will lock down
your data on both Palm-based and Windows CE-based PDAs. Using PDA Secure
you can select applications to secure, set up passwords, access
parameters, select type of encryption (algorithm) to use, and types of
files to secure. The software also prevents anyone from accessing the
device without entering a password. You can also select specific
applications to protect. In addition it supports single-key encryption
which scrambles a data file so the data can only be unscrambled and read
on the device that originally encrypted it. Numerous encryption
algorithms are provided and selectable, including the Advanced
Encryption Standard (AES) based on the "Rijndael" algorithm is
included.
To help deploy, manage, and secure a
large network of PDAs, Trust Digital offers PDASecure-Policy Editor. It
works with each device's PDASecure-Enterprise software to allow a
centralized management solution and a complete record of all the
security-related activity on the devices. One nice feature is that it
allows automatic encryption of all selected information stored in the
device after power-off or user definable time frame. Thus, if the device
is lost, the data will automatically be encrypted after a certain period
of time. Finally, another nice security feature is "HotSync
protection" which will prevent a user from beaming confidential
data to another device.
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