Sharp To Re-Enter Handheld Market With Zaurus Item
By Amy Gilroy -- TWICE, 2/26/2001
MAHWAH, N.J. -Sharp will re-enter the U.S. handheld PC market with a new type of Zaurus-branded product. The company claims it has developed a new design "that the U.S. market is looking for," according to Beth Moran, director of business development for Sharp's mobile solutions group.
Sharp plans to offer later this year a handheld that will have an integrated keyboard, a color screen, and both CompactFlash and SD slots for expanded functions, including a wireless modem.
Responding to a Feb. 19 Reuters report that said Sharp will offer a Linux-based Zaurus in Japan and the United States, Moran said, "No comment." She did, however, say that the company is "not looking at the Palm OS."
Moran added, "We are working on defining the platform and the appropriate market segmentation for the device, which will be available by the end of this year." Pricing has not yet been determined.
Sharp withdrew from the U.S. market over two years ago.
