Vendors show off their wireless wares

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By Ashlee Vance

(IDG) -- While disrupted by the terrorist attacks on the U.S., the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association event went on more or less as planned with a variety of companies showing their latest wares.

Companies gave product demonstrations and also built up hype around emerging high-speed networks. This is a quick look at what some of the vendors at the CTIA event had to offer:

Motient unveiled its MobileModem product, giving users of Palm V handhelds and IBM WorkPad c3 PC Companions a way to access the Internet wirelessly.

The MobileModem device attaches to the back of a Palm and could, for example, allow users to access corporate e-mail accounts while traveling. The company's product supports the Microsoft Exchange, IBM's Lotus Notes, and Novell Groupwise messaging systems.

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The wireless connection works in an always-on mode and will "wake up" a Palm device when it receives an incoming message. The modem weighs less than 5 ounces and is priced at $179 on Motient's Web site if users sign up for a 12-month contract to the company's wireless access service, according to information provided by the company. It is scheduled to be available either late in the third quarter or the early part of the fourth quarter.

Next-Generation Phones

Looking to take advantage of emerging high-speed networks, Kyocera Wireless launched a new line of 3G (third generation) wireless phones.

The 2235 and 2255 handsets use CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) 2000 1X technology that the company claims should allow carriers to increase voice capacity. The CDMA 2000 technology could also allow for data-transfer rates of up to 153 kilobits per second), according to a statement.

The phones, due out in the fourth quarter, are expected to be among the first available in the U.S. Dimensions for the phones are 4.72 inches by 1.89 inches and .95 inches thick, with the units weighing 4.34 ounces. Carriers will set prices on the handsets, according to a statement.

PacketAir Networks made its public debut as a company, announcing the availability of a beta version of its PacketAir Mobility Router product.

The router was deigned to handle packet-based wireless networking tasks such as roaming services, security procedures (authentication and authorization), and administration services like billing. The company has targeted 3G carriers as its customers, according to a statement. The company did not provide pricing for the product.

Safety Goes Wireless

Sierra Wireless, AT&T Wireless, Panasonic, and Padcom have teamed to create a wireless data service for U.S. law enforcement officials and the public safety industry.

By joining technological expertise, the group will make it possible for officials to move between wide area networks and LANs without losing coverage on their devices, allowing constant access to critical data. Officials working outside of their offices will be able to receive large downloads such as reports and mug shots.

In the alliance, Padcom will provide a switching application, Sierra Wireless will add a wireless networking card, Panasonic will offer its Toughbook CF-27 device, and AT&T will provide the wireless service.