PDA Devices

Information management tops the list of features for PDA devices. For the majority of the 1990s, PDA devices were marketed as only information managers. As the turn of century approached, these devices began to incorporate new technology that pushed their features way beyond that of a personal information manager. With the advent of wireless technol- ogies, PDA devices have become useful for multiple business applications. Some of these involve database querying, record keeping, record viewing, and other real-time tools. These new abilities make PDA devices practical and cost effective for many enterprises.

All PDA devices run on some type of hardware; this hardware enables the device to turn on and use various wireless technologies. Today, there are so many PDA device manufacturers that talking about each of them would easily fill this book. Having all these manufacturers creates both

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positive and negative effects. On the positive side, having a large selection is always good for consumers. This helps customers find better prices and allows for a wide variety of features. Allowing the consumer to choose the type, speed, form factor, and available transmission technology allows for a quicker purchase.

However, supporting different devices can cost a lot more money than supporting a single one. This has become evident in corporate environ- ments where personal PDA devices are accepted. This culture has brought with it requests from users to have IT personnel to support these devices. Unfortunately, when a company tries to save money by not embracing a corporate PDA roll-out and instead provide end users with the ability to use their own personal PDA devices, the support cost alone will outweigh the hardware costs of an enterprisewide roll-out. With multiple vendors running multiple versions of software, being able to support this gamut of devices is overwhelming.

Even with all the different hardware options out there today, across all the different vendors, none of these devices would work without software. This software allows the device to power on and allows it to interact with the user. Similar to the hardware market, the software market offers a wide variety of options.

11.3.1 Palm

The company that makes Palm software was created in 1992. One of their first devices was called a Zoomer. The Palm Company has changed hands several times since its creation in 1992. It was acquired by U.S. Robotics in 1995, then by 3Com in 1997 as they acquired Palm’s newly appointed parent company U.S. Robotics. Then, three years later in 2000, 3Com turned Palm back into an independent company, bringing it back full circle to where it began in 1992. In 2002, Palm spilt its operations into two companies owned by the parent company Palm: (1) Palm Source, which created and licensed the Palm OS software, and (2) Palm Solutions Group, which handled the creation of hardware for the Palm operating system.

Today, Palm represents a large portion of the handheld market. How- ever, its market share began falling due to the recent advancements of other companies. Palm devices continue to be primarily personal infor- mation management (PIM) devices carrying the user’s contacts, calendar, and other useful tools.

The base Palm software comes with the following applications:

Address book

Mail

Date book

To-do list

Hotsync software

Some other applications available with newer models include:

Note Pad

Short Message Service (SMS)

11.3.2 Microsoft CE and Pocket PC

Another software maker for handheld devices is Microsoft. Microsoft made a name for itself with the creation of the computer software operating system called Windows. In 1996, Microsoft started introducing its successful desktop software into the handheld computing market. The first version of software released by Microsoft was CE 1.0. This software was similar to Windows 95 and had the same look and feel. CE 1.0 was a slimmed- down version of Windows 95 that was made solely for handheld devices. As time went on, newer versions of CE began to emerge from Microsoft and new initiatives emerged as well. One of those initiatives was an OS targeted at wireless handheld computers and mobile phones. This initiative created Pocket PC. This left Microsoft with CE and a choice: either keep it going or replace it with Pocket PC. Microsoft took its version track for CE and added it into part of their embedded operating system group. This meant that for devices like bar code scanners, radios, TVs, and other similar devices, the Microsoft CE platform will be an available standardized solution. This split between CE and Pocket PC allowed the Pocket PC group to build more functionality into its smart phone operating systems and PDA devices. Pocket PC was geared more toward a user who needed to perform multiple functions like e-mail, contact management, calendar- ing, and many other PIM type applications. On the CE platform, the normal user would only be using the device for a particular function, such as bar code scanning or package delivery.

Microsoft allows hardware makers to customize their CE software to operate on their devices. This has helped companies create devices and not software. Many devices have hardware built by a certain company and the software provided by Microsoft. One example is a portable handheld scanner that runs CE. A hardware company makes the scanner and Microsoft provides the software.

Looking at CE today, which is now CE.NET, when compared to Pocket PC, the main difference lies in the PIM software. CE.NET has no PIM software included; there is no calendar, e-mail client, or task manager.

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This is because of the change Microsoft made from handheld devices to devices in general. The Pocket PC version that Microsoft released is made just for PDAs and smart phones. Microsoft has talked about splitting smart phone software away from Pocket PC software. The real issue that has stopped this event is the massive push to condense these functions into a single information management and communication device. Currently, if one purchases a PDA unit, it should come with Pocket PC and not Windows CE; if it does not, be careful as this means that the manufacturer is way behind the curve. Some of the applications that come standard on the Pocket PC are listed below. Make a note that the smart phone OS has only a limited subsection of the applications listed below.

Standard applications that ship with Pocket PC include:

Pocket Outlook: – Contacts – Calendar – Tasks – Inbox – Notes

Microsoft Pocket Word

Microsoft Pocket Excel

Microsoft Reader

MSN Messenger

Terminal Services

11.3.3 BlackBerry RIM OS

BlackBerry’s RIM operating system encompasses software, hardware, and the needed application to connect the mobile device to corporate e-mail servers sold, all from a single company. The device OS was created from the ground up to have an always-on connection to the Internet and e- mail. Because of this, a solution had to be created to support this type of connection to a corporate e-mail server. Most companies had pieces and parts to this whole solution. BlackBerry created an entire solution based on its own products, which was never done by a single company before then. This solution is based on all of their own hardware and software. There are some major differences between the BlackBerry devices and other PDA versions. First, they have no stylus to navigate; they use a roller on the side of the device to facilitate navigation. They also all come with a small keyboard that allows for easy messaging. Some PDA hardware makers have seen these differences and have adapted some of them to their offerings, such as the keyboard for Pocket PC

11.3.4 Symbian OS

The Symbian OS was created to meet the needs of users who were complaining about how the industry failed to respond to the need for smart phones that can combine PDA, messaging, and voice calling func- tions on a single device. Most manufacturers or software makers took whatever product they already had and adapted it to fulfill such needs. This meant PDA devices and software tried to tie messaging and voice capabilities into one device. On the other side, phone makers tried to create more PIM-type applications on their devices and in their software. Then a couple of these companies got together and led a joint effort to create software that was originally created to operate on smart message- and voice-aware devices. This led to the creation of the Symbian OS.

11.3.5 Linux

Linux, which provides free-of-charge, community-based operating systems, has only found its way to a few devices. Many advanced users have found ways to port Linux onto their devices, although few manufacturers support or sell a Linux PDA. These devices provide an alternative to licensing software from other companies. The Linux PDA has still a long road ahead before one sees them out in any significant numbers on handheld devices.