Motorola pager has Net mail hooks

Motorola's Messaging Systems Products Group today unveiled PageWriter, a two-way pocket pager that also features a QWERTY keyboard, a backlit GUI display, and allows users to send Internet e-mail and fax messages.

The product is based on Memos, a new OS that Motorola will push across its messaging products. It comes with a suite of organiser applications including an address book, and new apps can be added by downloading from a PC. It is also customisable, allowing users to block out certain categories of incoming information, and store data in folders

PageWriter is about the size of a cigarette pack and weighs 6.3 ounces. The device runs on a nickel metal hydride battery that lasts a week on each charge. 1Mb Flash RAM and 256Kb of standard RAM are standard. Infra-red will be optional.

PageWriter will available the first half of 1997. Price will be about £300.