Carmen Nobel

In a deal with Kada Systems Inc., Texas Instruments Inc. is taking steps to bring Java capabilities to low-end phones. TI will use Kadas ready-made J2ME (Java2 Micro Edition) platform on its TCS2100 chipset for low-end phones that will run on the upcoming GPRS networks, said officials at the Dallas company. J2ME enables users to […]

Things seem to be looking up for handheld computer maker Handspring Corp., which posted a second-quarter loss that was less than the past quarter. Still, the quarter was not nearly as good as in the previous year. Company officials said on Tuesday that the improvement was due to decent holiday sales. For the three-month period […]

Furthering development of the next generation of wireless networks, Nokia Corp. last week began volume shipments of GSM/EDGE hardware to carriers in the United States. Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution is based on Global System for Mobile Communications, which is the reigning wireless network in Europe and is starting to gain ground in the […]

Symbol Technologies Inc. next week will introduce software that lets IT managers centrally upgrade mobile operating systems and distribute applications to mobile devices over a WLAN. The AirBeam Smart software requires only an FTP or Trivial FTP server and will work over 802.11b, 802.11a or Home RF, all of which work faster than a standard […]

Encouraging the adoption of a nascent wireless technology, handheld computer company Palm Inc. on Monday started shipping to developers a beta version of its Bluetooth software developers kit. The SDK, which has the seal of approval from the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, will make it easier to create applications that are compatible with Version 1.1 […]

Wireless network operator Motient Corp. announced on Thursday that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and has arranged debt restructuring plans with its creditors. If the courts approve the plan, Motient will eliminate more than $40 million in annual interest payments, said officials at the Reston, Va., company. “This restructuring allows Motient to proactively […]

Broadcom Corp. and Palm Inc. on Wednesday announced plans to develop a Bluetooth architecture for the next generation of Palms handheld computers. The architecture will be based on Broadcoms Blutonium line of transceivers that use the Bluetooth protocol for short-range wireless connections. Palm handhelds enabled with Bluetooth will be able to communicate wirelessly at rates […]

Eastman Kodak Co. on Wednesday announced that it will spin off its wireless technology ventures into a new company called Appairent Technologies Inc. Appairent will focus on wireless transmission of video, photographs and other data, said officials at the Rochester, N.Y., company. Besides money from Kodak, Appairent will receive funding from the Monroe Fund, which […]

Sprint Corp. on Tuesday announced plans for a service that lets customers gain access to their corporate e-mail without having to deal with their corporate IT department. Based on software from Seven Networks Inc., the Sprint PCS Business Personal Edition enables customers to download and install desktop software for the new service, which works with […]

Handheld computing company Palm Inc. is appealing a recent court ruling that says Palms Graffiti handwriting recognition technology infringes on a U.S. patent owned by Xerox Corp. “We assert that the Graffiti handwriting recognition technology does not infringe the Xerox patent and that Palm has strong arguments to support its defense,” said Eric Benhamou, interim […]

Microsoft Corp. has the latest in computer technology that users can take with them—a monitor that can travel while still connected to a computer. CEO Bill Gates demonstrated the technology Monday night at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. A prototype monitor from Viewsonic Corp. codenamed “Mira,” the technology is based on Windows CE.Net […]

Qualcomm Inc. is shipping its next-generation CDMA2000 1X chip sets, but carriers that plan to sell handsets based on the wireless technology said most products are not ready for it. This technology gap, which has network providers waiting for handset makers and vice versa, continues to slow deployment of third-generation wireless services, especially in North […]