Hello, I'm interested in the current status of PDAs and their ability
to use the 802.11 wireless technology.  I'm looking for a list of
currently available PDAs that can access the internet via 802.11.  I'd
like to also know if the ability to access it is built in or requires
a separate piece of hardware, and if 802.11A or B.  A bonus (not
required for a complete answer) would include info about upcoming new
PDAs that will have this ability.

tljunior-ga,

Thanks for providing the opportunity to research this question.

There are several varieties of PDA in the market place.  I have
confined my research to non-tablet PCs (Pocket PC, Palm, Linux PDAs,
etc).

Pocket PCs [integrated]:
  Toshiba e740 Pocket PC
  Acer n20w
  Symbol PDT 8000 (optional, but integrated)
  Symbol PDT 8100
  Symbol PPT 2800
  Intermec 700 Color
  HP iPAQ 5450
  Casio IT-700STD

Palm:
  Handspring's Springboard-capable models
  (http://www.handspring.com/products/Product.jhtml?id=250018&cat=170003)
  
Upcoming:
  All 2003 HP iPAQ 5000 series
  Late 2003 Dell handhelds (similar to
http://www.dell.com/us/en/gen/topics/segtopic_axim.htm)

The following PDA "add-in" hardware supports 802.11:

Linksys WCF11 Instant Wireless Network CF Card 
Socket Communications Low Power Wireless LAN type I CF card 
D-Link DCF-650W CompactFlash (CF) type II Network Card
Xircom SpringPort Wireless Ethernet Module for Handspring Visor and
Palm

A host of other similar cards also support it, but these should get
you started.

Ability to use these depends heavily on drivers.  In addition, PDAs
such as the iPAQ which can with an expansion pack accept a PCMCIA card
will usually work with any PCMCIA card supporting 802.11b.

No news on 802.11a or 802.11g yet, from what I could find.

Now that Texas Instruments has implemented lower-power 802.11b
solutions (http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=2254), we may see more
802.11b PDAs.

In addition, SyChip has Secure Digital 802.11b in the works, which
will also expand reach (hopefully to many Palm OS devices). 
(http://www.infosync.no/show.php?id=1941)

802.11b is only just now starting to become available in integrated
handhelds.  Many prefer the iPAQ model, as it allows you freedom to
use 802.11b with many popular applications as well as to switch out
and use something else when necessary.

Speculations:

Danger (www.danger.com) and (www.sharp.com) are probably next to
release devices.

Good luck in your search!

Thanks!

arimathea-ga
Google Answers Researcher

Search methodology/sources:

Combinations of terms: 802.11b palm pda ipaq "pocket pc" 802.11
wireless socket PC CF SD on Google

Searches on Infosync (http://www.infosync.no)
Searches on Expansys (http://www.expansys.com)
Personal knowledge

Excellent, quick response and just what I was looking for!

I would also recommend any m100,m125,m135,m500,m505 with Xircom Palm
Cradle 802.11b module