Toshiba’s Handsets Enhance Laptop Security

By Janet Harris

Toshiba is entering the UK market for smart phones and PDAs with the introduction of two Windows Mobile handsets.

The G500 slider smart phone and G900 Pocket PC will be available under the company’s Portege brand. The devices will include fingerprint scanners for added security, which can also be used to navigate menus.

Toshiba is closely integrating the handsets with its laptops in order to significantly enhance laptop security. Users will be able to unlock their Toshiba laptops via the handsets with the fingerprint scanner. If a user moves away from the PC, at a set distance the Bluetooth connection to the mobile device will disconnect and the notebook system will lock down.

The handsets can also be used as controllers for PowerPoint presentations.

The handsets are Wi-Fi and HSDPA (High-Speed Downlink Packet Access)enabled.  They also feature SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) for Net telephony. A voice over Internet Protocol client will be distributed with the devices.

The G500 smart phone is based on Windows Mobile 5.0, while the G900 Pocket PC will feature the new Windows Mobile 6 for Pocket PC Phone Edition. It will take mini-USB sticks as well as mini-SD cards.

Both of the products are scheduled for release in Spring 2007, the G500 a month ahead of the G900.