COMMUNICATIONS BRIEFS

Palo Alto, Calif.—Wireless application service provider (ASP) OmniSky has extended its wireless Internet and e-mail service to the Pocket PC platform, upgraded its service and expanded its distribution to more than 600 outlets. OmniSky said it expects Hewlett-Packard's Jornada PocketPC to be the first supported by its service and required add-on CDPD modem. The ASP also said its service has been upgraded to speed up wireless e-mail by 40 percent. Distribution of the service and modems for the Palm V and Vx was expanded to 600 outlets in October.

Costa Mesa, Calif.—EnGenius Technologies has begun shipping its second-generation long-range Industrial Cordless phone, the SN-920, at an expected everyday $349. At the end of the year, the company will phase out the existing $299-everyday SN-900. The 920 is a 900MHz digital spread-spectrum multiuser system whose handset is 40 percent smaller than its predecessor's. Its base station transmits at up to 900 milliwatts, compared to the first model's 630 milliwatts. The range of the first model was described as reaching up to one mile in typical urban and suburban areas without the optional rooftop antenna. With an optional foot-long omnidirectional rooftop antenna, the first model's range extends up to five miles if line-of-sight is maintained, and the new one delivers up to 8.8 miles through the rooftop antenna. Among other differences: NiMH battery vs. NiCd, music-on-hold and retractable short antenna.

Hauppauge, N.Y.—Audiovox has added Standard Telecom, the maker of Nixxo-brand pagers and wireless phones, as one of its OEM phone suppliers. Standard will supply Audiovox with two phones, the first of which is the CMP-3 dual-mode CDMA handset with built-in MP3 player. It ships in the fourth quarter and accepts optional 16MB and 32MB memory cards. The step-up second model ships in the second quarter.