In this age of hybrid computing, it is only logical that people would want to combine a PDA, which holds appointment times, contact names and phone numbers, and to-do lists, with a mobile phone. What better way to stay organized no matter where you are? Of course, there are design issues that go along with this, such as what it will look like. Will it resemble a phone or a PDA? How do you integrate these two very different devices? Well, the truth is, they're not all that different, and Cyberbank has discovered a way to make this a workable combination.

The PC-EPhone is an Internet-enabled mobile phone and PDA in one. Based on Microsoft Windows CE 3.0, it is designed to look like a PDA. With a 4-inch 640 x 480 pixel touchscreen LCD, a touch panel for alphabers and hot keys, a central 4-way navigation button, and a stylus, you operate the PC-EPhone just like you would any other handheld. But the added phone functionality comes in the form of the stylus. An interesting-looking component, the stylus has number buttons located on its face that you can use to dial your contacts. In addition to using the PDA body, you can use the stylus, which is connected to the body via Bluetooth, to execute the phone conversation.

The PC-EPhone uses an MSM 3000 chip for CMDA mobile communication. Initially, the PC-EPhone will be sold supporting wireless data only. It has a built-in CF slot to accommodate third-party CF cards for connecting to CDPD, CDMA, and GSM networks. When you decide to go between PDA and phone functions, you simply touch one of the hot keys, which creates a strip down the left side of the screen. The strip includes keys that let you switch between phone, mobile explorer, email, address, schedule, and SMS functions.

Based on an Intel StrongARM SA-1110 processor, the PC-EPhone includes 32 MB ROM for the calculator, voice recorder, phone, SMS, mail, Internet Explorer 4.0, calendar, tasks, memo, Pocket Word, bSpreadsheet, and other software programs and 32 MB of RAM for your files. Besides the CF card slot and the Bluetooth stylus, the PC-EPhone uses RS232C and IrDA for alternate communications.

In addition, if you are interested in having access to multimedia, you'll be happy to note that the PC-EPhone supports MPEG for video, which is played on the 256 color screen, and MP3 for audio. The PC-EPhone is bigger than other phones and PDAs, measuring 5.0 x 4.0 x 0.87 inches and weighing 10.55 oz.

Pricing and Availability

You can order it now, but the PC-EPhone will begin shipping in 60-90 days. You can use that time to save up the $999.00 it costs to own one.

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