Socket Communications has announced: #1.) A new demo of a Pocket PC device using a new Socket Bluetooth Personal Network Card (CompactFlash form factor) printing to a Bluetooth-enabled Epson Stylus Color 777 printer; #2.) A new demo of the same handheld and card making a Bluetooth wireless data connection using a DENSO mobile phone and Sprint PCS network access; #3.) A new In-Hand Scan Card for the new Palm m500/m505 handhelds based on Secure Digital I/O (SDIO) technology; and #4.) A new family of Palm m500/m505 Universal Connectors for Motorola and Samsung mobile phone handsets.

PumaTech has announced new Web-based data synchronization services for handhelds and notebook computers via Intellisync.com that includes "Website information change notification" capabilities.

AvantGo has announced: #1.) A new partnership with Brokat Technologies to build future secure electronic transaction services; #2.) A new partnership with Symbian to bring AvantGo content to the EPOC OS handhelds and smart-phones; #3.) Confirmation that FoxNews.com will no longer publish AvantGo channels; and #4.) The following new channels - Brian's Belly, Metacritic, The Sporting News, TheFunniest, and Electric Playground.

Research-In-Motion (RIM) has announced: #1.) New partnership with Lucent for building future 3G mobile solutions; #2.) Integration of GoAmerica's GoWeb browser into select BlackBerry devices; #3.) Validation by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that BlackBerry devices are using FIPS 140-1 embedded encryption technology; and #4.) Availability of BlackBerry Enterprise Server software that can link mobile BlackBerry users to backend email and calendaring solutions.

Insignia Solutions has announced that Wind River will be offering Insignia's Jeode technology as an incorporated part of Wind River's future real time operating system (RTOS) and integrated development environments (IDE).

Fujitsu PC Corporation has announced a new line of LifeBook E series laptop computers that start at US$1499 and go up to US$2399 that can be custom ordered. Key common features: Pentium III processors; optional swap drives (CDROM, DVD, CD-RW, SuperDisk, floppy); two battery bay support; built-in Smart Card Reader, 56-Kbps V.90 modem, and 10/100 Ethernet; application launching panel; ATI Rage Mobility-M4D graphics controller; 14.1" XGA TFT display; support for either Windows 98SE/2000/ME; two Type II slots or one Type III PC Card slot; and sleek silver-color magnesium alloy casing.

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)