To complement its PI-7000 version of the Newton, Mahwah, New Jersey-based Sharp Electronics Corp is planning the PT-9000, calling it a Personal Information Assistant and saying that it will offer the simplicity and information accessibility of a Personal Digital Assistant with the software functionality of a sub-notebook computer. It will feature a large liquid crystal diode screen, detachable keyboard, two PCMCIA slots for mass storage and communications flexibility, and software from Sharp’s partners in the venture, Berkeley-based Geoworks Inc, with its GEOS graphical operating system, Los Altos-based Palm Computing Inc with its mobile applications, and Vienna, Virginia-based America OnLine Inc with access software to its text services. The PT-9000 is due next quarter.
