Microsoft and Vandem have announced a new "joint development agreement" that enables Microsoft to acquire access to Vadem's natural handwriting ink-compression technology called "CalliGrapher handwriting-recognition software" (developed originally by ParaGraph), and use this technology in future Windows CE offerings.

AvantGo has announced a new mobile information initiative they are calling "Mobile Unity" that is geared to bring Internet Web pages to wireless devices (WAP phones plus Palm OS & Windows CE devices). Currently the following "technology" companies have announced support for this plan: OpenSky, Microsoft, Novatel Wireless, AT&T Wireless, and the WAP Forum. The following "content" have also announced support: The New York Times, Fox Sports, Salon Ticketmaster, Online-City Search, TRIP.com, Amazon.com, StockSmart, Bloomberg, MapQuest.com, w-Trade Technologies, and SONY Online Entertainment.

Mike Cane at the Palm Infocenter is reporting that WizCom Technologies is working on bringing OCR technology (QuickLink Pen & Quicktionary) to Handspring's Visor platform.

Melard Technologies has announced a "full screen" Windows CE device called "Scout HPC" that is ruggedized and integrated with wireless communication capabilities.

ByeDesk (a mobile phone services company) has announced that it has been purchased by Sonera.

Funk Software has announced that their RADIUS server Steel-Belted Radius v2.2 can now authenticate remote users against user name and password information stored in LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) directories.

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com) eFax: 978-246-3067