Dell Joining Handheld Fray

Dell Computer Corp. this fall will enter the handheld computer market with two devices based on Microsoft Corp.s Pocket PC operating system, according to company documents that appeared on various enthusiast Web sites this week.

According to the documents, one device will sport a 400MHz Intel Corp. Xscale processor, while the other will include a 300MHz chip.

The Dell devices will feature a “Color Transflective” LCD screen, a jog dial and four applications buttons, a microphone and speaker, up to 64MB of SDRAM, a Compact Flash expansion slot that will enable support for Bluetooth and 802.11b wireless technologies, and a Secure Digital expansion slot.

Dell officials did not deny that the documents came from the company and they confirmed that they plan to release a Pocket PC device by the end of the year, but added that all plans for the product are subject to change until its official release.

“Be careful presuming any final decision on our part as to what our product will be when we finally do have product,” said Jess Blackburn, a spokesman for Dell in Austin, Texas. “We will offer product by the end of the year.”