SCOTT eVEST LLC (SeV) will introduce its latest product, the SCOTT eVEST Version 2.0s-SPORT at PC Expo in New York June 25-27. Version 2.0s-SPORT is made from a hi-tek performance, lightweight, water- and wind-resistant fabric. Zip-off sleeves and breathable construction make it ideal for warmer weather and outdoor activities. The SCOTT eVEST’s 17 ergonomically-designed, hidden pockets allow the busy, connected person to carry all their gear, including PDAs, cellular phones, MP3 and CD players, sunglasses, water bottles, magazines, small laptops, and travel documents.

Handheld Computing Magazine’s June 2002 issue hits newsstands nationwide this week, covering everything Palm Powered. Readers will be presented with feature articles (Top Email Clients, Palm OS Utility Guide, Personal Finance Guide, Closing the Sale, and Handspring Hot New Treos), over 15 product reviews, as well a look at the hottest trends in the Palm Powered handheld market.

Handmark Inc. announced that it has acquired substantially all Pocket Express assets. Pocket Express is a publisher of software for Palm OS devices and is best known for its entertainment titles. The acquisition includes the Pocket Express Web site, customer lists, and Palm OS games including the Tetris Classic based Pocket Express Entertainment Pack and the Midway Arcade Classics game bundles. The two firms are privately held and the terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

The Pen&Internet division of Parascript announced immediate availability of its Software Developer Kit (SDK) for riteScript, the next-generation handwriting recognition technology with advanced multi-lexical support. This SDK is targeted to all developers of pen-based applications that use handwriting recognition technology, as well as VARs, systems integrators, and OEMs, that have a requirement for the next generation of advanced notes recognition.

Botzam, Inc. has released Botzam Backup. This product is designed to provide the user with backup and security protection. Botzam Backup is designed for all Palm OS devices and will back up data and applications onto the expansion cards. Botzam Backup supports many features including scheduling, compression, and encryption. It supports all major Palm OS expansion technology, including Sony MemoryStick, Compact Flash cards, and Secure Digital cards.

Palm, Inc. and BMW Financial Services (Switzerland) Ltd announced that BMW dealers are now using Palm handhelds to calculate and offer lease and credit rates for customers browsing the car lot. For hundreds of dealers and salespeople, Palm handhelds coupled with a custom Palm OS application created by BMW Financial Services (Switzerland) Ltd. — BMW Finance 1.0 — promote improved customer service and financing detail accuracy by placing — at their fingertips — automated tables, calculator functions and the ability to customize monthly installments to the specific needs of their customers. When a consumer shows interest in purchasing a vehicle, the dealer can now provide critical leasing and credit information to help facilitate the purchase decision on the spot. These calculations are complex, and previously mistakes were easily made when sales people had to make calculations immediately in their heads or on paper. BMW Finance 1.0 lets dealers perform and save intricate calculations on Palm handhelds while sitting next to the customer inside the car. This lets the consumer make a better-informed buying decision and provides relevant information quickly, saving time for both customer and dealer.

At the National Education Computing Conference (NECC) in San Antonio, Bachmann Software is announcing that its PrintBoy application will now support printing from Palm OS based devices to Clarinet Systems

Lightning Source Inc., a provider of digital content management solutions to the book industry, and Palm Digital Media have entered into an alliance to jointly market their fulfillment services and ebook format offerings to the ebook community worldwide. Palm Digital Media and Lightning Source will leverage their technological expertise and work with publishers to increase the volume of ebook titles in Palm Reader format available to consumers. Under the new alliance, Lightning Source will expand its current suite of digital content fulfillment services and ebook format offerings to include the Secure Digital Fulfillment (DRM) of Palm Reader formatted eBooks. Palm Digital Media will obtain access to additional worldwide channels of distribution for Palm Reader eBook titles.

PKWARE, Inc. announced that a 30-day trial version of PKZIP for Windows, PKWARE’s data compression software, is being included with the Handspring Treo 90. PKZIP for Windows provides customers with the ability to unzip Palm OS software applications, which are usually in zip format when purchased.

Palm, Inc. and Integrating Strategies and Technology In Education Practice (InSTEP) announced that Palm handhelds will become an integral part of InSTEP’s program to provide educators statewide with the skills and strategies to help them teach in student-centered, high-technology classrooms. The program is designed for K-12 math and science teachers and university educators who are preparing new teachers to focus on problem-based inquiry learning rather than the traditional method of simply lecturing to impart knowledge. Nearly 400 teachers are expected to participate in the eight, one-week programs this summer at The Erma Ora Byrd Center for Educational Technologies (CET) at Wheeling Jesuit University in Wheeling, W.Va., home to the NASA Classroom of the Future, a premier center for educational research and development. The announcement came at the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC) that runs here through Wednesday.