Harmonic provides low-cost mobile computing

Mobile computing and barcoding company Harmonic Group says it is lowering the barrier to mobile computing with the introduction of the Bitatek range of handheld PCs in SA.

Harmonic Group MD Barry Baetu says the Bitatek handhelds are available initially in two versions.

The IQ3000 device dispenses with a colour screen in favour of a greyscale, but includes a USB-port, Compact Flash slot, infrared communications, and 32MB RAM. Input on the Microsoft Pocket PC 3.0-powered device is via a touch-screen and software keyboard, while it also has an audio-recording feature and includes a barcode scanner.

The Bitatek IT6000 is powered by an Intel Cotulla 400MHz processor, and is equipped with a standard 128MB SDRAM and 64MB Flash ROM. The IT6000 has both a Compact Flash II and a Secure Digital expansion slot. It also offers a barcode scanner along with mobile connectivity through Bluetooth and 802.11b.

Reuters reports that Cisco Systems has introduced its next-generation router, which it says is the fastest, biggest, most reliable and flexible router that phone companies will use to carry increasing levels of Internet traffic.

The Carrier Routing system, dubbed CRS-1, will cost up to $2 million. It is seen as a product that will allow Cisco to regain the cutting-edge in the market for expensive, advanced networking gear - a market for which the company has vowed to fight.

Reuters reports that Sony plans to offer broadband television by 2006. The TV would incorporate the new 'cell` processor it is developing with IBM and Toshiba. The cell processor will be used to power Sony`s next-generation game console as well as a network television that will offer functions similar to a personal computer.

The cell processor will be up to 10 times more powerful than conventional chips and able to shepherd large chunks of information through a high-speed Internet network. Sony has said the cell processor - due to start test production in early 2005 - will power the next-generation PlayStation game console, which will probably double as a home server.

Bytes Technology Storage (BTS), a division of Bytes Technology Networks, will sell the 4.2TB IP SAN solution for less than R270 000 bundled with a V-Switch 2000 and Nexsan`s InfiniSAN ATAboy2, from its international partner Sanrad.

"iSCSI advanced disk-based storage is rapidly becoming the top choice for corporations that are looking to quickly, easily and affordably deploy IP SANs," says BTS director Mike Broderick.

Gupta Technologies, a European-based provider of embedded relational databases and visual development tools, has announced the Linux beta version of its embedded database, SQLBase.

SQLBase 9.0 will be released later this year and will introduce support for the Linux operating system.