HP's iPaq 5450 Pocket PC handheld, shipping this week, features both 802.11b wireless LAN (WLAN) and Bluetooth connectivity as standard, and also has a built-in fingerprint scanner for secure access to the device, as an alternative to users entering a PIN. The combination of integrated wireless communications and security will probably attract interest from firms wanting to support mobile staff.

The iPaq 5450 is the first handheld IT Week has seen with both WLAN and Bluetooth wireless standards, although Toshiba has been shipping its Pocket PC e740 with built-in WLAN since September.

With many firms now rolling out 802.11b WLAN infrastructure, the iPaq 5450 will let workers browse the Web and access email from anywhere on-site within range of a wireless access point. Off-site, the Bluetooth interface lets the iPaq 5450 connect to enterprise resources via Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones.

In tests, we found we could easily connect to an evaluation WLAN and browse the Web. A built-in HP configuration tool stores multiple WLAN configuration profiles, letting the user roam between different wireless networks. The iPaq 5450 also supports voice over IP (VoIP) when connected to a WLAN, and can use an optional headset for calls.

A small window just beneath the iPaq's navigation button is a built-in fingerprint scanner, over which the user swipes their finger to be identified. A supplied HP tool can lock the device until a valid fingerprint has been entered, or an optional four-digit PIN can also be used to log in. We would like to see this extended to secure access to corporate resources as well as the device.

The iPaq 5450 is the same size and shape as current iPaq models, and can accept the same expansion jackets, if required. It also has the transflective 64,000 colour screen introduced on the iPaq 3900 series, and includes a removable battery pack. HP said that users should get a full day's use out of the iPaq 5450 even with frequent WLAN access, but an optional extended battery pack will ship within the next few months.

The device is based on a 400MHz Intel XScale chip with 64MB memory and has a Secure Digital card slot for Flash storage.

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