Wynd, IDP put wireless e-mail on agency pacts

Wynd Communications Corp. is working with International Data Products Corp. to bring wireless electronic mail technology to portable PC procurements.

Wynd late last month announced that its WyndMail wireless e-mail solution is available with the purchase of any IDP portable computer.

IDP portables are shipping on contracts such as the Army's Portable 1 the Justice Department's Justice Laptop and IDP's computer deal with the General Services Administration's Federal Systems Integration Management Center.

In addition Wynd aims to sell its wireless e-mail solution as a standalone solution for both IDP and other portables. At press time the standalone option was slated to be available on IDP's Fedsim contract.The federal push is a first for Wynd a two-year old company based in San Luis Obispo Calif. "[The arrangement] is a great opportunity " said Dan Luis vice president at Wynd. "IDP has a good reputation and has won some good platforms in the federal government."

Wynd's WyndMail package includes one year off unlimited wireless e-mail services from Wynd an All Points PC Card from U.S. Robotics and all necessary software. The product requires a Type II PC Card slot.WyndMail is compatible with Microsoft Corp.'s Windows 3.x 95 and CE Apple Computer Inc.'s Macintosh and Newton operating systems DOS and Hewlett-Packard Co.'s LX palmtop.

The product is compatible with any e-mail package that offers forwarding capabilities including Microsoft Exchange Novell Inc.'s GroupWise and Lotus Development Corp.'s cc:Mail.

"Wireless e-mail makes the portable computer truly mobile " said George Fuster president of IDP. "Government users will gain the advantage of being able to disseminate and receive information [whether] they're on the road or in a meeting " he added.

"The efficiency of not having wire-lined connectivity and having omnidirectional capability...is a dimensional leap " added Ron Rassner chairman of the Electronic Mail Association's emerging technologies committee. He said wireless e-mail would appeal to users in most agencies.

WyndMail operates using the RAM Mobile Data Network which provides coverage in 93 percent of U.S. metropolitan areas.