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Handheld Linux Device Debuts

Samsung will market Yopy, Palm-size unit from Korean start-up Gmate.

By Terho Uimonen, IDG News   

A South Korean start-up, Gmate, has unveiled a Palm-size device that runs the open-source Linux operating system. The unit, called Yopy, made its debut at the CeBIT show here and is expected to ship by midyear in both Korean and English-language versions, says Lee Sang-Don, Gmate's general manager of marketing and sales.

It will be priced between $400 and $600, depending on memory configuration, officials say. Samsung will manufacture and market Yopy, Lee says.

The prototype models shown at CeBIT have 32MB of memory. The Yopy is powered by a 206-MHz StrongArm processor. Units weigh approximately 8 ounces and measure 5 inches by 3.28 inches, and .86 inches thick.

Featuring a 4-inch full-color display, the diminutive device will come fully loaded with an embedded Web browser and e-mail client. It will also have personal productivity applications and software for playing back MP3 music or MPEG video files.

Its pen-based graphical user interface was developed by Gmate's developer team, and the company also plans to offer a GIMP toolkit for developers who want to build applications for the device, according to information from the company.

Yopy also features infrared, serial, and Universal Serial Bus ports for PC connectivity.

Gmate is looking for partners to help it develop modules for wireless Internet access, company officials say. Yopy features a slot for CompactFlash memory cards. The company plans to develop connections in the CompactFlash module that support several standards, including CDMA and GSM.

Gmate also plans to support the Bluetooth wireless communications specification, which would enable the handheld device to exchange data with other Bluetooth-equipped devices, officials say.

Martyn Williams contributed to this report.