SHARP EXPANDS ITS HANDHELD MARKET
By Adnews Staff
Sharp Electronics of Canada recently introduced a pocket-sized, pen-based computer that has Internet access. Called the SE-500, the machine features a low-power 14.4 Kbps modem to send and receive Internet e-mail from an analog phone line. In addition, it has a 240-by-159 pixel touch screen with a backlight illuminated display. It allows users to maintian a database, view activies, schedule appointments, trace business and personal expenses, write a message or take notes, compute using the calculator and check the time in cities around the world. The SE-500 is being promoted using print ads in The Financial Post, The Toronto Star and airline magazines. Web ads are also being used. Advertising for Sharp in Canada is done by small design companies, while media buying is handled in-house. Separately, Sharp plans to launch a handheld PC with Microsoft Windows CE by the end of the year. It was introduced in the U.S. last week. Sharp's handheld line-up of products includes the Zaurus PC companions, ZQ series of electronic organizers, the SE-500 and Memo Master series. Sharp is the Canadian sales and marketing subsidiary of Sharp Corp. of Japan.