Communicate Anywhere, Any Way

The

wireless bandwagon grows a little more in strength as another entrant–the

Accompli 009 from Motorola–jumps on. This is a handheld wireless

communications device that includes phone functionality, e-mail, SMS (Short

Messaging Service), Internet access, as well as software applications like a PIM

(Personal Information Manager) and games.

The Accompli 009 weighs about six ounces and is as big as a pack of cards. It

has a QWERTY keyboard, a 256-color screen, and backlit display. You can access

its phone functionality through a headset or a detachable speakerphone. It

supports both tri-band GSM and GPRS protocols, so you can use it for

communication in most major cities across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa,

North America, and South America. You need to change the band setting, and it’ll

automatically search for all available networks in a given region.

The Accompli has 8 MB of flash memory and works on Motorola’s Wisdom OS.

You can use it to connect to the Internet as well as your office intranet, and

access applications like enterprise databases or review photographs with the

photo application. Its POP3 e-mail toolkit lets you configure the device to

manage up to 10 e-mail accounts. You can use the Accompli to create new

messages, and read, forward, and reply to your messages; a copy of these will be

stored in your desktop e-mail account. Its infrared data port lets you send and

receive documents by fax and print to compatible printers.

Apart from the built-in PIM applications, you can also install other

available, downloadable applications. For example, True Sync Plus lets you sync

your Accompli contacts, schedules, and tasks with most popular PIMs, PDAs, etc.

The Accompli also comes with three built-in games and a calculator that

includes formulae for exchange-rate conversion.

The device is expected to hit stores in the US in the second half of this

year, and will cost around $600.

Pragya Madan