Socket Announces Immediate Availability of Wireless Developers Kit for Windows CE
NEWARK, Calif. — February 25, 1997 — Socket Communications, Inc. (SCKT: OTC Bulletin Board) today announced the immediate availability of a Software Developers Kit (SDK) that simplifies creating applications to deliver time-critical messages and data to mobile workers carrying Handheld PCs (H/PCs) using the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE operating system. The PageSoft(R) SDK with Windows CE support enables independent software vendors, value added resellers and corporate developers to create applications that enable mobile workers to receive applications-specific data, e-mail, stock quotes, sales leads and other wireless information directly into HP/C applications.
Last November, Socket announced connectivity products to support Windows CE and the latest generation of H/PCs. The company's PageCard(R) data pager and Windows CE software are Microsoft Windows CE-certified and allow wireless messages to be received in the PMAIL Inbox present on every Windows CE device. The new SDK extends the reach of wireless connectivity by enabling developers to extract and format any kind of data, send it to a paging company for transmission and receive it directly into applications on the Windows CE H/PC equipped with a PageCard.
"This new SDK allows VARs to add competitive advantages to their applications by harnessing the power of paging networks to deliver wireless data to mobile workers," said Martin Levetin, president and CEO of Socket Communications. "Windows CE is a new, standards-based, economical platform that can increase the productivity of sales professionals, home healthcare workers, financial analysts, and many other field-based workers. Our SDK provides the means to deliver the sales leads, prescription changes, stock and bond positions, and other data that these workers depend on," he continued.
"This wireless SDK is excellent news for the 2,000 developers building applications for Windows CE," said Harel Kodesh, general manager, Consumer Appliance Group at Microsoft. "By making it easy for them to construct wireless applications for HP/Cs, Socket is fueling the growth of mobile computing. This SDK is exactly the kind of tool that attracts new vertical developers to Windows CE."
The SDK includes components for both formatting and sending data on Windows 95 or Windows NT computers and components for receiving data in applications on Windows CE HP/Cs. The interface code provided in the toolkit completely frees the developer from worrying about the intricacies of paging protocols, the PageCard interfaces or any other communication complexities. All Windows CE applications created with the SDK will automatically support plug-and-play hot-swapping for the PageCard. This advanced feature ensures that users of the developer's applications will be able to insert or remove the PageCard with complete data integrity. A key feature of the SDK is a paging carrier emulator which allows developers to stress test their applications without incurring the cost and delays of sending actual wireless pages.
API functions, runtime Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) and C/C++ and Visual Basic header files provide a robust developer environment. The SDK is built on open standards, provides support for the Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol (TAP) for sending data via modem to any major paging network, and supports Novell NASI and Telebit ACS protocols for sharing modems across local area networks.
The SDK also provides Windows CE libraries and samples that utilize the Message Intercept Protocol (MIP) providing the mechanism to identify and capture data bound for applications. These libraries support application concurrency, allowing a single Windows CE HP/C to receive data for multiple applications. Sample applications with source code are provided as examples to serve as models, further speeding development.
Built into the SDK is support for several protocols that remove the burden of defining conventions for the application developer. Utilized in all of the company's software products, these protocols are published as open standards by Socket and are also employed in many third-party products . Long message formats are provided using Socket's Page Descriptor Footer (PDF) protocol which packetizes and sequences data. The Mail Message Format (MMF) supports e-mail fields for data destined for the PMAIL Inbox, and the Wireless Contact Management Format (WCMF) defines contact record fields for updating contact databases.
The PageSoft SDK with Windows CE support is available immediately from Socket and sells to members of the Socket Developer's Program for $ 495. Socket's PageCard, an integral component in developer- created applications, is available from Socket resellers for an estimated street price of $ 399, or from GTE for as little as $ 29.95 per month with GTE service. Members of the Developers Program can purchase up to two PageCards for $ 289 each.
Socket Communications, Inc. develops and sells connection solutions for mobile computers, including Ethernet PC Cards, a family of Serial PC Cards, as well as PC Card hardware, software, and services for wireless messaging. The PageSoft messaging library includes development tools and middleware, send and receive applications, plus rules-based e-mail forwarding agents. Socket's connection solutions are based on its HIS chip technology featuring extremely low power consumption, making them ideal for battery-operated mobile computers and handheld devices. Details about Socket and its products may be found on Socket's web site at http://www.socketcom.com .
Note to Editors: Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Socket Communications, Inc., PageCard, PageCard Wireless Messaging System, and PageSoft and SWiMS are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of Socket Communications, Inc. All other companies or products are the property of their respective holders.
CONTACT:
Socket Communications
Howard Case, 510/744-2762
[email protected]
or
A&R Partners
Annie Grace, 415/363-0982
[email protected]