Arkon Networks announced that the Parafone Cordless Telephone Springboard module for the Handspring Visor is now commercially available at Future Shop stores, and online via www.palmgear.com, www.futureshop.ca, and www.amazon.com. Cost is around US$119, and it transforms your Visor into a 900MHz cordless telephone that dials from the Visor's Address Book, records call length, etc. Visit www.myparafone.com for more.

Xybernaut began shipping their Mobile Assistant V wearable computer yesterday. The MA V is manufactured by IBM Corporation, and delivers "wearable power in a small, rugged CPU module with the speed and functionality of a desktop PC," according to the company. The unit includes a TI DSP, Intel Mobile Celeron 500, ATI's Rage Mobility-M1 graphics chip, and starting price is US$3,995. The MA V uses a "hands-free" input method.

Paragon Software today announced a Hebrew EPOC "that is the first localization solution for Symbian OS/EPOC OS that enables Hebrew language support in the system." See the results and download a sample at www.penreader.com/HebEPOC.html. Until August 11, the price is US$19.95.

Innovation Management Group has signed an agreement with Psion Teklogix to offer its My-T-Soft programmable onscreen keyboard with Psion's 8500 vehicle mount computers. "IMG's onscreen keyboard utility is an ideal complement to Psion's 7500 and 8500 series computers, whether it be in warehousing, field service, utilites, sales, or routing," said Jerry Hussong, IMG's VP of Sales.

Sony lowered their prices on Memory Sticks today. 8MB is now US$24.95, 16MB = US$34.95, 32MB = US$49.95, 64MB = US$79.95, 128MB = US$149.95. MagicGate Memory Stick media, the secure version, has also been reduced as follows: 32MB = US$69.95, 64MB = 99.95, and 128MB = 169.95. The Memory Sticks can be purchased at retailers nationwide and at www.sonystyle.com.

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)