Socket Adds Newton Support to Wireless Software Developers Kit
NEWARK, Calif. — July 1, 1997 — Socket Communications today added support for the Newton MessagePad to the PageCard SDK. The Newton Message Intercept Kit is a package consisting of software tools and PC Card pager receivers and designed to simplify the task of creating wireless applications for mobile users. The PageCard SDK makes it easy for programmers to take advantage of the vast paging infrastructure, the world's largest wireless digital network, to send time-critical data from Windows networks to any alphanumeric pager or to Socket's PageCard. The SDK also provides software for downloading wireless data from the PageCard to applications running on mobile computers such as the MessagePad. Possible applications include wireless e-mail, webcasting updates, sales leads, calendar changes, service dispatches, stock market quotes, plus a variety of mobile tasks for vertical markets such as health care, finance, sales force automation and real estate.
The PageCard SDK includes API functions, runtime Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs) and C/C++ and Visual Basic header files for developing and testing "page-enabled" Windows 95 and Windows NT applications that convert corporate data into wireless messages. A TAP simulator with customizable carrier profiles allows developers to simulate any wireless pager network in order to speed development time without incurring service costs. Also included is Socket's PageSoft Receiver for Newton, one of the first products to take advantage of the Newton Messaging Enabler (NME), Newton Inc.'s new architecture for wireless messaging. PageSoft Receiver uses the NME to route wireless messages from the PageCard receiver to the MessagePad InOut Box or to custom programs which can be created using the popular NewtonScript application generator. The PageCard SDK comes with sample NewtonScript programs to demonstrate how vertical applications can download wireless data to a MessagePad.
"By adding MessagePad support to the PageCard SDK, Socket gives you the best of both worlds," says John O'Leary, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Socket's Wireless Products Group. "Newton developers can now create wireless solutions that incorporate Windows desktops and MessagePads. Windows has an enormous installed base and is the platform of choice for transmitting time-critical corporate data to mobile clients. The MessagePad is the premiere pen-based mobile computer and makes an ideal wireless receiver."
"Newton developers will be happy to see a such a powerful toolkit for creating wireless messaging solutions," says Sandy Benett, Newton Inc.'s Chief Operating Officer. "The MessagePad is strong in vertical markets. By combining Windows tools for sending wireless data and NewtonScript for receiving it, the PageCard SDK gives developers proven programming environments to create the high-value, task-specific applications that these markets demand."
The PageCard SDK costs $ 599 and includes sending libraries for Windows 95 and Windows NT, PageCard download libraries for Newton, Windows 95, Windows NT and Windows CE, plus two PageCard receivers and two months of wireless service. PageSoft Receiver for Newton, which is part of the SDK, requires the Socket PageCard and works with the MessagePad 2000, MessagePad 130, and MessagePad 120 running the Newton 2.x operating system. Developers can call Socket at 1-800-552-3300 or send e-mail to [email protected] .
Socket Communications, Inc. develops and sells connection solutions for mobile computers, including PC Card hardware and software for wireless messaging, a family of Serial PC Cards and Ethernet PC Cards. Socket's PageCard(r) is a PC Card alphanumeric pager that downloads wireless data to a mobile computer. The PageSoft(r) 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's product family can be found on Socket's web site at http://www.socketcom.com .
Note to Editors: Socket Communications, Inc., PageCard and PageSoft are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of Socket Communications, Inc.
CONTACT:
Socket Communications
Mark Neff, 510/744-2752
[email protected]
or
A&R Partners
Bob Angus, 415/363-0982
[email protected]