ThinkPads to receive emails even when switched off
By Barry Collins
Posted on 25 Aug 2009 at 07:40
Lenovo ThinkPads will be able to send and receive email even when the laptop is switched off, thanks to a tie-up with Israeli firm Yoggie.
The two companies are working together to supply Lenovo's ThinkPads with an always-on ExpressCard device that securely sends and retrieves email when the laptop is in hibernate mode or fully switched off.
The device uses Bluetooth to synchronise with a BlackBerry handset, allowing the user to download messages from Microsoft Exchange, POP3 accounts of webmail services such as GMail. The device sports 500MB of flash memory to store the retrieved email, which is instantly available to the user the moment they boot the laptop.
The device can also be used to send emails queuing in the outbox immediately after the laptop has been switched off.
The invention does rather beg the question: why bother synchronising the laptop with a BlackBerry instead of simply reading the emails on your smartphone? Lenovo and Yoggie are clearly hoping the convenience of replying to and sending emails from a full-size keyboard will be enough to tempt business customers.
Yoggie claims the device is entirely secure, with a selection of antivirus, anti-spam and phishing detection software included on the device, which has its own memory and lightweight Linux operating system.
The device is based on similar technology to Yoggie's Pico and Gatekeeper devices, which provide a full security suite on a USB thumb drive.
Yoggie has yet to announce details of the device's availability or price.
From around the web
What's the point?
Everybody who needs emails to be that accessible has a smart phone which is much more convenient. If i want instant access then i'll use a small, portable, always one device: If i want the power and size of a laptop, i'll wait the whole 30secs for it to boot up.
By hjl4354 on 25 Aug 2009 
It needs a Blackberry?
The first issue is that this literally receives email through a Blackberry smart phone - one of the best email management devices yet seen. I can't help but think you've already dealt with the always-on email reception problem.
By steviesteveo on 25 Aug 2009
advertisement
- How to install Internet Explorer 9
- Maintaining and supporting IE9
- Plan your deployment
- Creating a custom browser package
- Search in corporate environments
- Dear Sony, Samsung and every other tech company in the world: stop trying to be Apple
- Will Apple's Final Cut Pro X update placate the pros?
- Smartr Contacts for iPhone review
- Switching to Office 365's Outlook Web App
- Amazon Kindle Fire review: first look
- Lytro light-field camera: first look
- CES: Why booth babes are bad marketing
- Ice Cream Sandwich on the Transformer Prime review: first look
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.7: first-look review of the best tablet at CES
- 3D printing: undeniably cool, but lacks a killer app
- The curse of sloppily written software
- Paying for your crimes with Bitcoin
- Behind the scenes: tech support for Formula 1
- The security risk of fat fingers
- Why Windows Phone 7 isn't quite ready for business
- When will Microsoft stop fiddling with Windows 8?
- Flash down the pan?
- Metro Style apps vs desktop applications
- Coping with Facebook changes
- The power of PPC
advertisement
Printed from www.pcpro.co.uk