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Dell has revealed that the next generation of its Axim handheld will include both Wi-Fi and triband radios, signaling a new wave of mobile productivity. In addition, an executive says Dell plans to develop a device based on Microsoft's Smartphone platform.

The next-generation Axim personal digital assistant will allow users to switch between Wi-Fi networks and CDMA or GSM networks. Due out in 2004, the device will likely support 802.11g, which offers backward compatibility with 802.11b and speeds of up to 31Mbps.

The Axim will also include Bluetooth to permit synchronization with client devices, including notebooks, said Anthony Bonadero, Dell's director of wireless product marketing. He spoke during a set of exclusive briefings arranged for InfoWorld at Dell's Round Rock, Texas offices this week.

"You could call it a Pocket PC GoodLink or BlackBerry device," Bonadero said. "When we went out the door with Good [Technology as a new partner] a couple of months back, we made it very clear we are working with them as well as others to define the next generation of products."

Is it Practical?

Whether Dell becomes one of the first vendors to ship a device that caters to both Wi-Fi and public switched networks is problematic, according to David Hayden, principal analyst at MobileInsights.

"Motorola and Proxim are in a deal to do just about the same thing," Hayden says.

The real question is whether any practical applications need this capability, Hayden adds.

"There are so many different vendors of hot spots that if you have to sign up for your cellular plan, your T-Mobile plan, and your Boingo plan in order to use this, is it really cost-justified?" Hayden says.

On the plus side, Hayden says it will benefit enterprise sales people who need both networks to negotiate the intricacies of closing a major deal, for example.

Going Mainstream

Dell's vision is to see the Axim become a mainstream mobile device, with its release timed to coincide with advances in mobile networks.

"We see the 2.5G network really starting to mature. GSM is our first choice (for support) because of global reach. CDMA is also an alternative," Bonadero said.

In addition to supporting Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system, the next generation Axim will have a multiday battery life, Bonadero said. On the processor side, Dell will not attempt to reinvent the wheel. "We're not talking about a single chip solution which would be the kind of innovative thing if you were to mix Wi-Fi technology with GSM and CDMA radio technology on a single silicon chip," he said.

Bonadero said users will be able to choose whether to "populate or depopulate" the device with either or both radios, depending on their data or voice needs.

"We do think that this device has to have the ability to browse--Internet capabilities--and it has to have voice capabilities," Bonadero said.

Smartphone Due

Meanwhile, Bonadero says Dell is likely to release a cell phone based on Microsoft's Smartphone. He joked that companies typically wait for Microsoft to get to the third release of an operating system before adoption. The same will most likely be true of Dell's support for Smartphone, he said.

"Version one (of Smartphone) does good things with data, but it's not so good for voice," Bonadero said. "If Microsoft keeps focusing on it, they will get it right."

Dell did not disclose other details about its forthcoming Smartphone, including availability and pricing.

Dell's wireless strategy has to date been focused on driving business back to core product lines, including servers, PCs, and notebooks. However, Bonadero said the company has started investing more internal resources on mobile and wireless product given its profitability on a per-unit basis.

"We didn't know these sorts of margins still existed in computers," Bonadero said of Dell's foray into PDAs with the Axim.

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