Psion launches rugged handheld

NEWS Psion has unveiled its Netpad rugged handheld device and announced a first customer, United Utilities. The Netpad is the first new product from Psion Teklogix, the Psion unit formed by the takeover of US group Teklogix. The Netpad joins the company's existing range of Walkabout mobile devices aimed at field workers. United Utilities will use the device to service its 2.5 million UK gas, water and electricity customers. The launch is a fillip for the company, which recently pulled out of the PDA market. It is also a boost for Symbian, the handheld operating system jointly developed by Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson, Panasonic and Psion. Symbian's main rival, Microsoft, will launch the new version of its Pocket PC operating system on Thursday, with a list of major device manufacturers including HP, Compaq and Toshiba queuing up to support it. However, few Symbian products have made it onto the market thus far.