Psion, the British-based palmtop computer group, has launched the Psion 5mx - a new handheld PC designed to work closely with the latest generation of mobile phones and provide access to e-mail and the Internet while on the move.
The Psion 5mx represents a significant upgrade over Psion's existing Psion 5, and includes a faster microprocessor, more memory and a larger screen.
It also includes, for the first time, support for Sun Microsystem's Java software, enabling access to real-time Internet information services such as share-price ticker tapes, travel bookings and online shopping.
Psion executives said they had decided not to incorporate wireless communications capabilities into the 5mx itself because of the "unacceptable" compromises that would involve.
Instead they had decided to stick with a "two-box solution", and to ensure the new machine would connect to as many different handset phones as possible using its built-in infrared link.
The new machine, which will be available from July 1st and will cost £429.95 sterling (€656.7) in Britain, is built around EPOC release 5 - the latest version of Psion's operating system software which was also released earlier this week.
The new software has been developed by Symbian, the joint venture between Psion, Matsushita of Japan, Ericsson of Sweden, Nokia of Finland and Motorola of the US.
It has new features including built-in Internet messaging, Java support, comprehensive synchronisation software, and software designed to enable the exchange of data between wireless information devices using the infrared link.
Psion executives also provided a preview of a new range of larger portable devices, including a new Java-based mobile network computer called the netBook and several "slate" style machines without keyboards.
The netBook is a sub-notebook sized machine with a colour screen aimed at the business computing market. Psion said it had produced 300 prototype units of the netBook ahead of its commercial launch in October.
