Yesterday the Moscow office MakTsentr visited a friendly visit by representatives of the American company Pretec, the world leader in flash memory cards with capacity from 16 MB to 6 GB (!), Unique accessories and peripherals for handheld computers. Recall that during last year's CeBIT 2002 MakTsentr signed an agreement with Pretec the right to exclusive distribution of its products in Russia. Since then, the Russian Internet zone operates the official website of the company (www.pretec.ru), and MakTsentr promptly deliver to the Russian market the latest solutions from Pretec. So, at the November Comdex Fall'2002 exhibition in Las Vegas, Pretec has demonstrated expansion cards Compact Flash memory record at the time of - 1 GB, 1.5 GB, 2 GB and 3 GB, and in January, new items have appeared on sale in Moscow shops network "The computer in the palm." On the following days ago CeBIT 2003 MakTsentr received the award as a distributor of products of this company's fastest-growing business.
 |
Our American guests Gordon Yu, president of the Pretec and Ruby Wang, director of sales, have minimized its program in Moscow, decided to limit to one day stay. However, after negotiations that took place in MakTsentr we were able to interview them. Despite his busy schedule, our guests willingly shared with us information, including confidential.
 |
HPCru: Give you prefer any operating system for PDAs, releasing their products? Which platform considered the most promising in terms of expansion cards? Gordon Yu: Yes. We mainly focus on devices based on Pocket PC, Pocket PC 2002 and the upcoming version of the OS, Pocket PC 2003. Therefore, at this point prefers Standard Secure Digital as the best prospect for Pocket PC devices and peripherals, respectively, on its basis, that is SDIO-products. Though can not help but note the importance of cheapest and most frequent Compact Flash. At the moment, Pretec offers a complete range of devices and expansion cards, memory form factor CF. But in the end (Mr. Gordon Yu sly smile - approx. HPCru), with the Symbian operating system has a great future, and therefore again a reference to keep on SD and SDIO-card. HPCru: In this case, namely SD form-factor, you are giving the greatest preference, considered the most promising? Gordon Yu: While preference Sompact Flash as a less expensive form factor, but now we are gradually moving to SD. Recently, we expect to begin selling a large number of enhancements based on SD. Among them - the digital camera on an expansion card memory standard Secure Digital (takes pictures at 640x480 pixels - approx. HPCru), presented at the CeBIT 2003, prezentatsionnny complex on an SD card or USB-key chains series iDISK, which can also "work with" CF or SD-cards. In general, we have a range of innovative products. This so-called multifunction cards based on the CF, that is, devices such as "2-in-1, combining, say, GPRS-module and 128 MB memory card, Bluetooth-GPS-transmitter and receiver or the same GPS-receiver and a 128 MB memory card. New items are compatible with Pocket PC devices and some Palm'ami. In the second half of 2003 we plan to issue cards GPRS + Bluetooth and GPRS +802.11 b. And the aforementioned module GPRS + 128 MB memory card will appear as soon as possible.HPCru: How does the impact versatility of these cards at their price? Gordon Yu: As with any innovative product launches, initially a lot of functional maps will be costly. In the future all depends on the situation in the PDA market. They will drop naturally over time. HPCru: Does Pretec initiative "SDIO Now!", Which pushed the company BSquare? (Recall that now the majority of models Pocket PC support SDIO, but this does not mean that any card in this format will be compatible with SDIO-palm. To remedy this situation the company has decided to BSQUARE, throwing a cry - "SDIO Now!" BSQUARE offers to all interested in the development of SDIO producers to join its program and to bring their adapters and PDAs to some common standard. Ideally, the participants of this program will produce a fully compliant products and, thus, that the joint work of cards and handhelds do not even need to install additional drivers . The project has already appeared the first very eminent supporters. For example, the communicator Samsung i700 and the entire PDA HP iPAQ 39xx fully support the program SDIO Now! From the producers of compact peripherals to support the program were Veo, MARGI, Socket Communications with its Wi-cards Fi SD and others. Just the other day about his involvement and said Seiko Instruments with Toshiba. - approx. HPCru) Gordon Yu: Yes, supports and, moreover, we are very enthusiastic about this initiative the company BSquare, which has already picked up many PDA makers and developers periphery. Here's just a pity will be if "SDIO Now!" not approve of Microsoft. In this case, most likely in this initiative will be to put a cross. HPCru: Do you expect to lower prices for CF-cards of large volumes, which are sold already and we have in Russia? I mean, 1 GB, 1.5 GB, 2 GB and 3 GB memory card. Gordon Yu: Yes, of course. In the near future is the bulk of the available expansion cards, RAM 3 GB Compact Flash-valued cheaper at $ 500, through the issuance of cards with capacity of 6 GB (its price - $ 7,499), we presented at CeBIT 2003. 3GB of memory will cost only $ 1999:)
 |
HPCru: What Next> abroad in terms of memory, which Pretec going to win? Gordon Yu: Well, in all probability, as it usually happens every year, double the amount of memory, and it will be 12-valued GB Compact Flash card. HPCru: Then, in all likelihood, be doubled and its price? ;) Gordon Yu: Well, not to talk about it a little early (laughs - approx. HPCru). Anyway, with the release of this card will drop like 3GB and 6GB flash. You know, release of such products - it is rather a demonstration of technologies, the level of a particular company. Pretec CF output for a 6 GB - it is an opportunity to tell the world: "Yes, we can do it. We have reached such heights." Because our company at the moment really is a world leader, and a large wall due to the development of flash memory such capacity. HPCru: As soon as the products presented at CeBIT, namely - multifunction expansion card, the camera Pretec DV-4200 with the ability to create video clips in MPEG4, a presentation set in the SD card, and many others will be on sale? Gordon Yu: A large part - in the next month, that is, deliveries will begin in April. Although we have presented so many new products at CeBIT, what exactly is on each of them a specific date to call it is difficult, simply due to lack of time.
 |
HPCru: For a very long time rumors about the output of GSM / GPRS-module for the Pocket PC from Pretec in connection with the recent increased interest in such products. Are you planning to release it? Gordon Yu: probably had in mind our GPRS-module. We represented a further CeBIT'e 2001 (Class 2) and another one on CeBIT'2002 year, but these products are unlike most others from Pretec has not yet gone on sale. This is due to difficulties in certification of these devices. This year, at a recent exhibition, we again presented the GSM / GPRS-module on the card Compact Flash. C to help your handheld into a mobile terminal or telephone for data transmission of all types - voice, fax, SMS, Internet content, e-mails. CompactGPRS (as it is called - approx. HPCru) operates in the mobile network standard GSM / GPRS (class 10) at frequencies 900/1800/1900 MHz. The module is compatible with most Pocket PC devices and palmovymi PDA. Is powered by its own battery, saving energy device. We hope that as soon as the blow will be certified, it will appear on the market.
 |
HPCru: How do you assess the prospects for Russian PDA market? As far as it is of interest for Pretec? Gordon Yu: The entire Russian market represents for us a company MakTsentr, with which we are certainly very pleased to be working:). Russia - a vast country that needs a lot of effort to reach the market. In this difficult matter, we rely on our distributors, MakTsentr having dealer network in Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as in other large Russian cities. We hope for fruitful cooperation and will do everything we can to provide Russian customers quality solutions Pretec. The authors, translation: