Nokia pen writes notes to a mobile phone

• Tags:
• Digital Pen,
• SU-1B,
• Bluetooth,
• Pen

Winston Chai CNet Asia

Published: 16 May 2003 09:02 BST

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Finnish phone giant Nokia aims to have users scribble their thoughts with a pen-like device, and send the writing through multimedia messaging (MMS).

When used with a specially-printed notepad, Nokia's new gadget -- the Digital Pen SU-1B -- allows users to write in digital ink and transfer the image to their mobile phones via Bluetooth radio.

The notepad contains paper that is otherwise ordinary except for printed command symbols that can be sensed by the pen. These symbols allow it to know what page it is on, and by ticking the symbols, the user can specify line colour and thickness.

The text will be saved in the commonly-used GIF picture format and users can then send them to an MMS-enabled handset like the Nokia 7650 and 3650, or an email address, the firm said on its Web site.

The device also connects to a PC through a bundled docking station with a USB (Universal Serial Bus) interface, so that writing can be uploaded to the computer. However, the pen itself can store up to 100 A5-sized pages of text, Nokia said.

To convert written words into computer text, the user must purchase a third-party character recognition software package, according to Nokia.

A Nokia Asia-Pacific spokeswoman said the digital pen was first previewed in Hong Kong in March but shipments will have to wait till the third quarter.

"The retail price will vary from market to market as the pricing will be determined by distributors and operators in the various Asia-Pacific countries," she said.

Coincidentally, Nokia has invited the press in Singapore to a launch later this week. The invitation letter suggests that the device is pen-like. The Nokia spokeswoman, however, told CNETAsia that a different product, not the Digital Pen SU-1B, will be showcased.

Nokia's foray into the world of digital ink is not unique. Rival handset maker Ericsson also introduced a similar device in 2001.

Coined Chatpen, the gadget can transfer handwritten messages to mobile phones via Bluetooth, like Nokia's pen. Instead of sending the information via MMS however, Ericsson's device does so through GPRS (General Packet Radio Service).

Digital pens have also emerged in the PC realm. Last September, Swiss computer peripheral maker Logitech launched its Io pen, a device with the ability to capture and stores a person's handwritten notes which can then be transferred to a computer.

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