Sharp has started shipping a Linux-based handheld
supporting enterprise applications and databases.
The Zaurus SL-6000 is targeted mainly at corporate customers,
said Deanna Davis, a Sharp spokeswoman. "It is designed be an
enterprise piece as opposed to a PDA that anyone would buy," she
said.
The PDA is powered by an Intel XScale 400Mhz processor, with
64Mbytes of synchronous dynamic Ram, 64Mbytes of flash memory and a
lithium-polymer battery. It has a VGA screen and an integrated
speaker and microphone to record and play back conversations.
It has a built-in qwerty thumb keyboard that can be protected by
a sliding control panel. The PDA can withstand a 1m drop, the
company said.
The device supports Java, which is important for business
application use, Davis said. It also supports IBM's Websphere
application server.
IBM and Sharp are working together to sell the product through
the companies' respective channels, she said.
The $699 (£377) SL-6000 has built-in 802.11b Wi-Fi networking
and compact flash and secure digital/multimediacard card slots.
Fred
O'Connor writes for IDG News Service