Users fail to exploit PDA's potential

UK businesses are falling behind their European counterparts when it comes to exploiting handheld devices.

Palm today launches its latest model, the M125, saying UK users need to take a fresh look at the potential of the device.

"Some 80 per cent of our models are being used in the workplace," said Bill Mackay, country manager for Palm UK and Ireland. But their use is limited to basic personal information management functionality, he added.

UK handheld users are failing to see beyond organiser and diary capabilities. In Europe it is far more common to see PDAs as links to back-end corporate data and applications, providing additional security.

"There's still a huge education needed, especially in the UK. Scandinavia is hot at putting these devices into company systems, and is benefiting from the full functionality, whereas people in the UK are going for desktop downloads," he said.

The M125 comes with 8Mb of Ram and version four of the Palm OS operating system. It also has a secure digital/multimedia card expansion slot, and can edit Microsoft Word and Excel documents on the move. Users can buy add-ons such as additional memory, portable keyboards and changeable cover plates. It is available immediately and costs £199.

"The real future of these devices is to be the owner of all your information on the go. Every director and manager should feel as comfortable out of the office [with these devices] as in the office," said Mackay.

When it comes to hardware vendors, Palm has about 38 per cent of the current user base, and Compaq, its nearest competitor, has 22 per cent.

Palm does not feel threatened by Microsoft's latest PDA operating system, the Pocket PC 2002, according to Mackay. "The more companies that try to educate businesses about the return on investment benefits, the better," he said.