Rounding the First Corner

The Race Continues

In the previous issue, we suggested that product development for the pen-based computer market would be something akin to a horserace with operating system vendors, hardware manufacturers, and application developers vying for leading positions. That’s certainly turned out to be true. While it’s still too early to say who is winning and who’s losing, the race continues with new competitors regularly joining in. Here’s the most recent race card for the pen-based world; we’ll continue updating it next issue.

Distributed Micro Systems (DMS)

Distributed Micro Systems (DMS) provides pen-based data collection systems for companies like South Pacific Transportation Company and Pacific Gas and Electric, supporting both GridPad and PenPoint. In addition to its pen-based software, DMS develops expert systems, voice systems, EDI, and data acquisition software for platforms ranging from UNIX and QNX to IBM RISC and DEC VAX.

DMS
433 Airport Blvd. Suite 434
Burlingame, California 94010
415-347-4731

Fastech, Inc.

Fastech, Inc., an early developer of pen-based software for sales automation, produces a package called the Fastech Sales Information Systems (SIS). This package provides sales force automation tools such as retail activity tracking, order entry, and promotion tracking. SIS also provides two-way communication to host computers. Fastech has implemented systems for companies like Pillsbury, Kellogg, Lipton, Nabisco, etc. SIS currently supports both GridPad and PenPoint.

Fastech, Inc.
450 Parkway Drive
Broomall, PA 19008
215-565-3405

Hansen Software

Hansen Software develops custom vertical market applications for the GridPad computer. The company has announced intentions to develop applications based on PenPoint. Hansen specializes in “work management solutions” for utilities. It has released a pen-based geographic information system (GIS) that runs on the GridPad, allowing municipal maps to be updated in the field.

Hansen Software
1745 Markston Rd.
Sacramento, CA 95825
800-542-6736 (CA)
800-821-9316 (US)
916-921-0883 (local)

Photonics Corp.

Photonics Corp. The “Infrared Transceiver,” an OEM product developed by Photonics, may very well play an important part in the success of pen-based computing by enabling the development of wireless connectivity. The Transceiver is a wireless infrared connectivity product that sends data over infrared light at speeds of up to 1 Mbit/second. These infrared signals emulate cable signals, eliminating the need for cables in a traditional computer network. The infrared light received by a receiver lens is filtered to eliminate extraneous visible light. A photodiode then converts the optical source into an electrical signal which is then amplified. A demodulator reconverts the energy into serial bit stream data which is used by the computer.

Photonics currently sells a wireless connectivity product called Photolink targeted for end-users. This diffused infrared product supports AppleTalk/LocalTalk products. Apparently Photonics has some believers in its wireless technology: Apple and a variety of venture capital firms have pumped financing into the company.

Photonics Corp.
100 East Hacienda Ave.
Campbell, California 95008
408-370-3033

Sitka Corp.

Sitka Corp. Go Corp. obviously believes in Sitka’s TOPS file-sharing technology because the maker of PenPoint recently licensed software from Sitka. The PenPoint TOPS client software gives PenPoint users access to file and printers available on TOPS servers (PenPoint, DOS, or Macintosh) as well as access to Novell NetWare, IBM LAN Server, or Banyan VINES through the PenPoint TOPS client. The license includes SoftTalk, a remote procedure session mechanism. Recently appointed Sitka president Deborah Triant has specially targeted pen-based computing as a growth area for her company.

Sitka Corp.
950 Marina Village Parkway
Alameda, California 94501
415-769-9669

Softview Inc.

Softview Inc. If any company ever had a software package waiting for the right platform, it’s Softview. This company has been developing “form-based” software for a number of years; this includes tax preparation packages like MacInTax and Taxview and form designers like ifX Forms Designer. The company has announced plans to develop for PenPoint and currently supports Windows 3 (so we can expect they’ll support PenWindows too).

Softview, Inc.
1721 Pacific Ave. Suite 100
Oxnard, California 93033
805-385-5000

Wacom Inc.

Wacom Inc. Pens are the point of pen-based computing and Wacom is currently a leader of the pack in the stylus market. The company,

which has patented the electromagnetic give-and-receive resonance technology, produces a variety of pen/digitizer tablets for desktop (PC and Macintosh) and pen-based systems. The desktop systems range from the $795 SD-420L to the $1345 SD-322L for professional artists. The Wacom pen/pad is currently recommended by both Go for PenPoint and Microsoft for Pen-Windows.

Wacom Inc.
115 Century Road Paramus, New Jersey 07652
201-265-4226