SoftWinter released orageTools version 1.7 for Pocket PCa storage card management solution that offers verify, repair, format and defragment functionality for Pocket PC devices. This new version offers full support for devices running Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC.

Vuico is expanding its global presence by establishing Vuico KK as its Asia-Pacific headquarters. Based in Tokyo, Japan, Vuico KK was created to support the increasing demand for its GoWireless solutions in the Asia-Pacific market. Vuico’s GoWireless Mobile Messaging offers solutions for providing access to Cybozu Office 4, Cybozu AG, Cybozu Garoon, Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino and SMTP/POP3 messaging environments to the mobile professional.

Airgo Networks’ announced new wireless chip sets. InfoWorld says that Airgo chips for 802.11a could reach 300 feet or more and support a minimum throughput of about 34Mbps. The maximum 802.11a data rate is 54Mbps, with a range at that rate of about 100 feet. (It can reach further but the rate drops.) Actual 802.11a throughput typically is in the 17Mbps to 22Mbps range.

Palm announced the new name it will adopt following the proposed spin-off this fall of PalmSource, Inc., makers of Palm OS platform software. The name palmOne, Inc. will reflect the company’s handheld computer hardware and software solutions business and encompass the subbrands Zire and Tungsten, as well as Treo, upon the completion of the planned acquisition of Handspring, Inc., also expected this fall.

SFGate.com takes a look at the Web sites of a few presidential candidates. Howard Dean’s Web site allows cell phone subscribers to sign up for text alerts of upcoming appearances and national and regional events. One recent message encouraged recipients to call in during Dean’s appearance on CNN’s Larry King Live.

Microsoft said that the MSBlast worm that attacked enterprise and home computers this week, exploiting a flaw in Microsoft’s Windows operating system, cannot affect mobile and wireless devices.

MSNBC reports that most people were able to get their message out despite yesterday’s massive power outage in the U.S. and Canada. Folks just had to be persistent and patient. cell phones worked, sort of, as long as you kept redialing. Email went through, if your computer had power or you had a BlackBerry.

Detroit Medical Center and Wayne State University Department of Emergency Medicine recently purchased 150 Palm handhelds for emergency room attending physicians and residents, Palm announced. Traditionally, emergency rooms are stocked with bookshelves full of heavy reference books for physicians to review. The Palm Tungsten C handheld, with integrated 802.11b (also known as Wi-Fi), provides these physicians with ready access, over the hospitals’ Wi-Fi network, to not only medical reference information, but also, patient records, lab results, departmental memos and email.

Mobility Electronics announced it has joined the Symbian Affiliate Partner Program. For Mobility Electronics’ handheld software group, the inclusion in the Symbian Affiliate Partner Program will enable the Company to position its software product, iGo (Quickoffice Premier Office Suite (Quickpoint, Quicksheet, and Quickword applications), for increased sales opportunities in conjunction with advanced, open Symbian OS mobile phones.

MobiMate announced an agreement with Garmin International for bundling a trial version of MobiMate’s WorldMate with Garmin’s iQue 3600 PDA. WorldMate is a travel application for PDAs and smartphones, with key features that include world clocks with automatic DST calculation, a world map with day/night display, 5-day worldwide weather forecasts from The Weather Channel updated on-line, and a currency converter with daily exchange rate updates.