Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Ltd. and Research In Motion Ltd. (RIM) announced plans to jointly develop mobile printing applications for RIM’s BlackBerry wireless e-mail solution and HP printers.
The initial application, called the HP Mobile Enterprise Printing application and expected to be available in early 2002, will enable customers using BlackBerry wireless handhelds to print e-mails and e-mail attachments on network printers located within their businesses’ intranet while they are away from their desk or office. According to the Yankee Group, by 2003 approximately 50 per cent of businesses will have implemented wireless data solutions as wireless vendors fulfil the promise of offering high-value, comprehensive wireless solutions.
IDC: Windows holds desktop, battles Linux on servers
Microsoft Corp.’s Windows operating system will remain the dominant client operating environment for the foreseeable future, and only the open-source Linux operating system stands in the way of Windows also dominating the server side, according to market analyst IDC.
Windows domination of the client operating environment will be a major contributor to Microsoft’s revenue growth over the next few years as Windows XP builds on the success of Windows 9X and Windows 2000 Professional, IDC said. On the server side, IDC said Microsoft won 41 per cent of new licenses in 2000, compared to Linux with 27 per cent, other Unix variants with 13.9 per cent and Novell Inc.’s Netware with 13.8 per cent. Linux will be the only other server operating environment to show license revenue shipment growth, the analyst firm predicted.
Sprint PCS brings Java to handsets
Sprint PCS Group has joined the Java bandwagon, announcing an application developers’ program in conjunction with Sun Microsystems Inc. and support for Java on a pair of handsets running the Palm Inc. operating system.
The Samsung handset will run the Palm OS as well and support Java, said Pat Noland, product manager at Sprint PCS. The i300 will be the first colour handset running the Palm operating system and will cost about US$399, according to Noland. The unit measures 4.9 inches by 2.28 inches and is .82 inches thick (12.4 centimetres by 5.8 centimetres and 2.1 centimetres thick). It weighs six ounces (170 grams).
