Ericsson has announced their new Symbian EPOC based "R380 Smartphone" at the recently held CeBIT 1999 conference held in Hanover, Germany. The device "looks" like an ordinary mobile phone but comes with a "flip-top keypad that opens to reveal a large landscape display." The device is expected to ship in volume by early 2000. [SOURCES: Communications Daily and Digital Cellular Report]

Alcatel has announced a new "cooperative" agreement with 3Com to work together in establishing an "open industry forum" to "promote the convergence of handheld computing and telecommunications devices."

NEW WINDOWS CE DEVICES:

• Hewlett-Packard (HP) is now shipping their new Windows CE 256-color handheld PC (HPC) device called the "HP Jornada 680" [US$900, 1.1 pounds, 7.4"x3.7"x1.3", 76% normal keyboard, built-in modem].
• Compaq has released their new color "Aero" palm-size PC (PPC) that comes with "Internet" audio capabilities.
• Philips has announced their new 16MB color Nino 500 Palmtop PC (US$499) with support for a 320x240 pixel screen that is eight ounces with batteries, has a CompactFlash port and a great deal of bundled software.

Ramel Levin has announced the release of DateMate v1.4 for Palm OS. This new version supports DateBk3 icons, new preferences, small application icons, and BackupBuddy.

Chris Temple at PenRight! reports that Casio has announced a new "developer building relationship program for system integrators" interested in using Casio's IT-2000 Data Collection Terminals running the PenRight! development environment. For a limited time, developers can get "Special Evaluation Kit" that includes an IT-2000, a Docking Cradle and power adapter, and a PC connection cable for US$999 (limit two per developer, supplies are limited). For more information contact George Baraona, Casio Business Solutions, 408-467-3237.

Michael Khaw notes that current Newton users can export out of the Newton Connection Utility (NCU) into Claris Organizer format and "drag-n-drop" their exported file onto the new Palm Computing's MacPac 2.1. [SOURCE: O'Grady PowerPage]

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)