Only a few months after divulging its plans to develop a handheld network computer, Corel Corp. has put those plans on hold and is concentrating on producing another NC.

Officials of the Ottawa software developer last week acknowledged that the company is delaying its plans to build the Corel Pocket Network Computer, a Java-based handheld NC that lets users send and receive E-mail and faxes, as well as browse the World Wide Web.

In September, Corel announced plans to build the $500 handheld device and to ship it in the second quarter of 1997.

The company had only done preliminary work on the Pocket NC, a Corel spokeswoman said. The project is now in limbo, but the company will re-evaluate the time line next month, she said.

In the meantime, Corel will concentrate on developing its own full-fledged NC, called the Corel VNC (Video Network Computer). The VNC will very closely follow the NC reference platform, which includes use of Java Virtual Machine technology. The Video NC, which will be 9 inches long and 5 inches wide, will be based on Motorola Inc.'s MPC 821 chip set, according to Corel officials.

The VNC also will feature a speaker mounted to the top right-hand corner of the machine, and it will offer a one-button option for toggling between wake and sleep modes, officials said.

A prototype of the Video NC will be available in January, while unit shipments are slated for March, they said.

Source: PC Week