Microsoft, WebEx Ink a Digital Deal

Attempting to boost momentum behind its Tablet PC initiative, Microsoft on Monday showcased its 2.5-pound pen-based device and announced that WebEx would support its digital ink capabilities.

Online conferencing vendor WebEx said at the Demo 2002 conference in Phoenix that it will build Web conferencing services for the Tablet PC, taking advantage of the portable form factor to boost enterprise communications in meetings, according to K.V. Rao, director of platform marketing at WebEx in San Jose, California.

"We think [the Tablet PC] is a compelling device for communication," Rao says. "People have taken notepads for hundreds of years [to meetings]. They should be able to take something better than a notepad but smaller than a laptop."

WebEx says it is working with Microsoft to incorporate support for the display, inking, and multimedia capabilities of the Tablet PC.

Taking Notes

Because it allows users to enter information by writing on the screen with a pen-like stylus or via voice, the tablet is an ideal device for recording notes in meetings, says Rao.

"Now you have a form factor that [lets] you leverage the hand for note taking and white-boarding. It is lot more intuitive to work with a pen than a mouse," he says.

The announcement is the latest show of support for Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft's tablet PC initiative, which at Comdex in November garnered support from computer manufacturers and software vendors, including Compaq Computer, NEC, ViewSonic, Adobe Systems, and Corel.

In addition, Groove Networks says it is building a secure collaboration offering based on the Tablet PC that will allow users to work together on projects in real time, sharing comments in digital ink.

Also, San Rafael, California-based AutoDesk last week announced its new Architectural Studio design tool will work with pen-based tablet offerings such as the Tablet PC.

Microsoft says the Tablet PC will be available from computer makers in the second half of 2002.