Tapwave offers Zodiac Wi-Fi pack to UK users

Free download to support WLAN SD card pair

By Tony Smith • Get more from this author

Posted in Mobile, 7th December 2004 10:38 GMT

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Tapwave's newly announced Wi-Fi package for its Zodiac handheld games consoles will be coming to the UK, The Register can confirm.

Launched into the US market earlier this week, the bundle comprises drivers for Wi-Fi SD card adaptors from PalmOne and SanDisk, along with an email application, PalmSource's Mail 5.2.

Tapwave already bundles web browsing software with the consoles, which to date have had to connect to a mobile phone via Bluetooth or infrared wireless links in order to provide Internet connectivity. The absence of bundled email software has been something of a weakness for a device otherwise well-suited to Internet use.

Indeed, the Zodiac's 480 x 320, 3.8in, 16-bit colour display is a fine platform for web browsing. Adding Wi-Fi support, with the WLAN technology's higher data bandwidth, will improve that experience significantly.

Both the Wi-Fi card drivers and the email software are available from Tapwave's UK site here (drivers) and here (email). The downloads are offered free of charge.

The Zodiac itself is available in the UK exclusively through Dixons Store Group outlets, including PC World and Dixons shops. The 32MB Zodiac 1 retails for £250, the 128MB Zodiac 2 for £300. ®