Fujitsu packs power into new PDA

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By Joris Evers, IDG News Service

(IDG) -- Fujitsu Siemens Computers is expected to be the first vendor to launch a personal digital assistant based on Intel's next-generation XScale processor, an industry source said Tuesday.

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The device, dubbed Pocket LOOX, will carry an Intel XScale processor running at 300 MHz, according to a person familiar with the product. PDAs currently available, equipped with Intel's fastest StrongARM processor, run at a maximum of 206 MHz.

The product will be launched at the CeBIT tradeshow in Germany next month. Fujitsu Siemens is keeping mum on the processor details, stating only that the Pocket LOOX will ship with a "super fast processor." The company is candid about other features. The PDA will, for example, come with native support for Bluetooth and feature an expansion slot for a separately sold General Packet Radio Service card.

Bluetooth support allows the user to wirelessly connect the PDA with other Bluetooth devices, such as mobile phones, as well as with access points that provide Internet access, Fujitsu Siemens says. The GPRS card not only offers data connections when away from a Bluetooth access point, but also converts the PDA into a mobile phone, according to the vendor.

Most Advanced

The Pocket LOOX will be "the most advanced PDA available" if it comes with the speedy XScale processor, says Chris Jones, senior analyst at research firm Canalys in England.

"It is a bit of a coup for Fujitsu Siemens to be able to show this. Obviously this is a big increase in speed on what is available today and a lot of people will be after the added speed," he says. "This will be one of the more exciting new product announcements at CeBIT this year."

Built-in Bluetooth support is welcome and relatively new, with Compaq Computer's top iPaq being one of the few devices that has it today, according to Jones.

"I have a Bluetooth phone now, but need an expansion card for my PDA to talk to it. Especially in Europe, integrated Bluetooth is important as there are integrated Bluetooth devices now to talk to," he says.

Fujitsu Siemens and its parent Fujitsu developed the Pocket LOOX, a Fujitsu Siemens spokesperson says. The device, expected to be priced similarly to PDAs based on Microsoft's PocketPC 2002, will initially be available in Europe only, the spokesperson says.