IBM and partner BellSouth have introduced a personal communication device that combines a cellular phone, fax, E-mail, cellular paging, and several personal productivity applications in a system that weighs just 18 ounces.
BellSouth, which is distributing the product for IBM, will introduce Simon ($899, call (800) 746-6672) first to the central Florida region and then to other markets in the U.S. Nicole Lipson, manager of media relations at BellSouth Cellular, says the company expects that Simon will be available nationwide by April. IBM is evaluating whether it will release Simon to international markets.
BellSouth quotes a battery life of about 8 hours while in standby mode and about 1 hour during continuous talking or data transmission. A backlit LCD lets you access Simon's communications, ca
lendar, appointment, calculator, paperless notepad, keyboard, and address book applications using a plastic pen or your finger. A built-in 9600-bps fax modem lets you send or receive faxes of up to three pages. An optional PCMCIA pager card will let you receive alphanumeric pages.
Flexible C++
Matthew Wilson
My approach to software engineering is far more pragmatic than it
is
theoretical--and no language better exemplifies this than C++.
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