Palm Tungsten C Handheld Drives New Wireless Solutions for Schools

June 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With nearly one-third of K-12 public schools and 85 percent of colleges in the United States now using wireless networking technology, educators attending the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) here lined up today to see the new Palm Tungsten C handheld, a powerful, high-speed wireless device with integrated 802.11b technology, and an array of wireless solutions from Palm solution providers.

Palm, Inc. also continued to build momentum for the Palm Zire family of handhelds with today's announcement of a Zire 71 Education Limited Edition handheld. Introduced in April, the Zire 71 features a built-in digital camera, audio/video playback capabilities and Palm's sharpest high-resolution color screen. The Education Limited Edition package includes DataViz Documents To Go and Road Scholar 2003 - 04 - Student Edition from Handmark, Inc., an extensive suite of Palm OS applications designed to organize class schedules and assignments, and essential and powerful tools to help students excel in any subject. The Zire 71 Education Limited Edition handheld will be available in August for $309 (estimated U.S. street price).

"Multimedia capabilities are the hallmark of the digital age, and the Zire 71 handheld gives students and teachers mobile and affordable access to these capabilities," said Mike Lorion, vice president of education, Palm Solutions Group. "Educators also have been asking for Palm OS solutions to help them maximize their investment in wireless technology. Palm responded with the Tungsten C handheld, and our solution providers quickly followed suit with an array of wireless products for everything from managing grade books and attendance to testing and assessment."

With built-in 802.11b technology and a built-in keyboard, the Tungsten C handheld empowers administrators to stay connected to students, teachers, office staff and parents using email and Instant Messaging.(1) In addition, administrators can use the device to collaborate on budgets; facilitate activities; access the Internet; and get to information in data repositories, such as school test scores and Student Information Systems that contain student profiles, class schedules and emergency contacts.

Wireless solution demonstrations at NECC include the following:

-- Wireless printing with PrintBoy, the leading printing software for the Palm OS platform, from Bachmann Software & Services, LLC.

-- HanDBase, an award-winning relational database from DDH Software with support for wireless syncing via 802.11, IrDA, Bluetooth and TCPIP.

-- Teacherpalm, a mobile classroom administration product from Discovery Software, which supports wireless applications, including gradebook, attendance and discipline functions. The product complements Principalm, which allows principals to have a complete mobile student database, including color pictures, class schedules and parent contact details.

-- LearnTrac, a wireless networked system for administrators, teachers, students and parents that automates classroom administration and provides tracking and analysis of student comprehension and performance.

-- Wireless Portfolio WP802b from Enfora, Inc., which provides 802.11b wireless connectivity for most Palm handhelds. Its unique design includes an integrated battery to operate the 802.11b radio, and a stylish leather or denim twill carrying case.

-- The Assessa testing system from EyeCues Education Systems, Inc., which works wirelessly with the Tungsten C handheld. The system lets educators administer tests and assignments, and real-time in-class interactions. Data collected may be used in advanced data-driven decision-making analysis.

-- iNotice from Media-X Systems, a web-based school / district application for tracking student incidents and achievements that connects to Palm handhelds using network or conventional cradles and also works with the Palm Tungsten W or Tungsten C wireless connections.

-- iGo Pitch Duo from iGo / Mobility Electronics, Inc., which allows handheld and smartphone users to give and control presentations from their devices -- wirelessly.

-- Classroom Wizard 4.0 with 802.11 capabilities. Classroom Wizard from Scantron Corporation uses handheld technology to test, score and analyze student performance in real time.

-- A powerful new beaming station from TriBeam Technologies, Inc., which enables the built-in infrared port to reach 50 feet or more, and features two-way wireless for an entire class. With the new broadcast feature, assignments, eBooks, schedules, web pages and Palm applications can be beamed to the entire class at the same time.

Palm has an Education Purchase Program that offers additional free handhelds for various purchase levels. Under the Education Purchase Program, schools must usually purchase bundles of the same model. At NECC, Palm announced a new offer within this program that qualifies schools for the campus commitment level discount with the purchase of a mix of 500 Zire 71 and Tungsten C handhelds. The campus level price gives schools an additional 72 free units, with models determined proportionally to the order. The special program begins July 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2003. The Education Purchase Program is designed to assist schools in deploying Palm handhelds in classrooms, in larger school projects and in campuswide initiatives. Further information is available at www.palm.com/education.

(1) The Palm Tungsten C handheld is usable on campuses that have an installed Wi-Fi network, which may or may not provide Internet access. The FCC offers free unlicensed radio spectrum for short-range wireless communications by individuals, schools, hospitals and libraries.

Source: Palm, Inc.

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