Mobile device offers full web experience

PocketSurfer 2 includes SIM and access for one year in £179 price tag

DataWind has unveiled a lightweight device that promises a full web experience to mobile users, including access to all web sites plus web-based applications, including those with Java and Flash content.

The PocketSurfer 2, available from the beginning of August, accesses web sites via a proxy server that compresses the data stream and delivers it to the device over a GPRS network connection. This architecture speeds up page downloads, yet enables users to view full web content, the company said.

"We support Flash, Java, Javascript, VPN connections, and it can open email attachments. If you can see it on a PC, you can see it on PocketSurfer," said Datawind vice president of sales Derek Kopke. The only limitation is with streaming audio and video, as this type of content does not work well across a connection with limited bandwidth.

Kopke said that the device's ability to handle full web pages meant it could serve as a mobile terminal for enterprise applications, as well as appealing to consumers wanting a mobile web experience.

"The web is so pervasive in our society that anyone who uses it on a daily basis needs access anywhere. This is something no-one else has really done," he said.
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The device itself is a clamshell design with a full qwerty keyboard, reminiscent of a miniature laptop, and weighs just 174g. It has a half VGA (640 x 240) display. Kopke said it can easily be used with remote access services such as LogMeIn to let workers view and control their Windows PC.

PocketSurfer 2 is also unusual in that its £179 price includes a SIM and mobile dataplan for a year's worth of access. This only covers basic usage – up to twenty hours per month – but those considering heavier usage can opt to pay an upgrade price of £5.99 per month for unlimited access.