Dell debuts wireless PDAs

Dell has released the first PDA to use Intel's new PXA270 chip, which runs at 624MHz, and the first to use Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition operating system.

The company is also shipping new additions to the Axim range featuring Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connection options.

An entry-level unconnected consumer PDA, the X30 standard offers 32MB of Ram and Rom, and is priced at £129.

The two X30 Wireless personal area network/local area network models come with either 312MHz or 624MHz processors and 64MB of Ram and Rom. The devices are aimed at the business market and are priced at £189 and £229 respectively.

All three X30 PDAs run Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition and are available now.

"This is a two-pronged attack on the other PDA manufacturers," said Rachel Power, analyst at Canalys.

"It sounds like an attempt to take on Palm at the low end of the market by keeping price per unit very low, and also to move in on Hewlett Packard in the business market.

"We're seeing real growth in the business PDA market at the moment; it's where the money is in PDAs at present."

The X30 measures 122mm x 77mm x 14.9mm and weighs 139g. It comes with a 3.5in QVGA display and a Secure Digital removable media slot.

"Mobile computing will be a major part of our portfolio in the future," said Jeff Kimble, Dell's director of EMEA corporate products.

"We're expecting strong growth in the next few years and in the consumer sector demand could be even stronger."

This summer Dell will introduce several peripherals, such as a Bluetooth keyboard and a Global Positioning System kit, to use with the range.