MalaysiaGIS.com

Source: The Star

The device is claimed to be Malaysia's first WinCE 3.0 based PDA, GSM phone and personal navigation tool - all rolled into one. Looking like a PDA, it comes with Pocket Internet Explorer 4.0 for wirelessly surfing the World Wide Web, and works with GPRS networks. A Type 1 compact flash card slot allows the attachment of a digital camera and other peripherals, as well as additional memory modules.

But the best part is a piece of software in the device - the MiniLBS Application Suite, which is a miniature geographic information system (GIS) program optimised for WinCE and Pocket PC handhelds.

With it, a vector GIS map data can be downloaded to the B200, via TCP/IP communications or through synchronisation with a personal computer, enabling the handheld to be used for location-based services.

What this all means is that the B200 device with the application suite can be used for vehicle tracking, personal navigation, and optimum-route indicating tasks.

It can even alert the user to events and promotions in his location, or the traffic conditions in his area, as well as direct emergency services to him should he have an accident or medical emergency.

The B200's third-generation (3G) phone feature, meanwhile, offers users capabilities such as streaming video and fast mobile Internet access when these services become available, aside from SMS and e-mail now.

With the handheld, users can also choose to receive information on current events, local happenings, weather forecasts, restaurant guides, cinema listings, and offerings by local businesses in a directory format.

The B200 weighs 200g and has a 206Mhz, 32-bit, Intel StrongARM RISC processor, 32MB of memory, 64MB SDRAM, speakers, earpiece, microphone, USB port, infra-red port, touchscreen, and a lithium-polymer battery.

BSmart is pricing its B200 Communicator at US$899 (RM3,416) and is targetting it at the top 30% of Malaysian mobile phone and PDA users - i.e. business users who are into video-conferencing, workflow, data collection and distribution, and data services.

The company hopes to start exporting the Communicator to neighbouring countries in the second quarter of next year.

For more information, call BSmart at 03-21428040 or check out its website at www.bsmart-solutions.com.