Baron MPC: PDA, GSM, Bluetooth, IPsec, AND Biometrics

By Bernard Cole
iApplianceWeb
(11/17/02, 11:34:16 PM EDT)

Costa Mesa, Ca. - For the executive - or the intelligence agent - who wants everything, securely, Biand Consumer Direct Link, Inc., and the IBM technology services unit (Rochester, MN), have codeveloped the Paron MPC.

An Internet-centric computing and communications device of truly unique design, the Paron uses a 206MHz Intel SA-1110 StrongARM and combines the functions of a PDA, cellular telephone, and Bluetooth wireless access device into a handheld PC that is about as secure as you could want it, with a proprietary encryption-decryption architecture AND built-in biometric fingerprint recognition.

And, oh yes, it was designed as much as possible with totally open source software, including Linux, IPSec, and Trolltech's Qtopia graphical user interface and PDA software,

The target application for the devices is in those environments where a handheld PC will be used in high-value transactions or for exchange of highly sensitive information, where wireless data transmission security and user authentication have been questioned.

To enable its use in security-oriented applications, the Paron includes various security functions, including hardware encryption which safeguards biometric user data as well as wireless transmissions. In addition, CDL has developed for the device some customized software packages that target secure government and commercial applications.

The design of the device started when CDL, under contract to a governmental agency, had developed its own encryption chip, the CDL-82, approached IBM looking for assistance in integrating the chip into a handheld product.

IBM and CDL co-developed the Linux-based software platform starting from a 2.4.x Linux kernel and required the development of a Linux-based software stack that supported CDL's unique encryption chip and provided fingerprint authentication, GSM communications, and Bluetooth support.

Capable of cellular communications, using dual band GSM/GPRS (900/1800 and 900/1900), the device uses the Opera Browser in combination with Trolltech's open source software suite, including PIM and email support. It also uses IBM's database and Websphere software.

Go to http://www.cdlusa.com/products/paron_mpc.shtml for more information on this product.

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