Santa Clara, CA — (press release excerpt) — frontpath, Inc. today announced that it has begun shipping and volume production of its [Linux-based] premier wireless web device, the ProGear. Targeted to broadband-enabled vertical market segments including hospitality, education and healthcare, ProGear is a fully… portable wireless web device that supports a rich media experience enabling businesses to personalize content.

“Executing on its already disclosed strategy, frontpath's ProGear is being commercially deployed in the US to lead the post PC era with a device that offers access to anytime, anywhere information,” said Janet Leising, general manager of frontpath. “We firmly believe that the web and Java-based applications represent the ultimate freedom of choice for enabling access on wireless devices. I believe that vertical markets and smart businesses who leverage ProGear will be the first true beneficiaries of wireless, customized information.”

ProGear supports many popular rich media formats and offers a high quality 10.4-inch TFT display, x86 CPU compatibility, a soft keyboard, and a touch screen that enables quick access to applications or the Internet. The 3-pound product comes with a Soundblaster compatible audio and microphone/headphone support. ProGear comes standard with a 3-cell battery. An optional 6 cell battery, cradle with integrated USB hub and charging station, keyboard, and mouse are also available.

ProGear's software includes the Linux 2.4x operating system, Netscape browser version 4.74, and an extensive set of utilities and diagnostics. Hardware components include the powerful Transmeta TM3200 400 MHz processor, a 10.4-inch polysilicon TFT display delivering excellent image quality for text, still and video images and an ergonomic design with a thin, yet strong magnesium case capable of delivering portrait or landscape images. Additionally, ProGear comes with 64 or 128 MB of system memory. ProGear is available in Hard Disk Drive or Thin Client versions.

Initially available to frontpath business partners in the United States, the company anticipates that the most popular configuration will be in the $1,500 price range with the flexibility to upgrade or downgrade features such as batteries, memory, cradle, access points, keyboard and mouse.

 
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