Smart Handheld for Visually Impaired Readily Networks with Desktop Computer

A pocket sized mobile manager and notetaker, Levelstar's Icon runs embedded Linux on a PXA 270 processor. Belcarra's USB Composite Function and USBLAN software enables Icon users to easily and reliably network, exchanging data and information with their desktop computers.

Louisville, Colorado and Vancouver, Canada (PRWEB) July 24, 2007 -- LevelStar, a company dedicated to providing assistive technology for the visually impaired, and Belcarra Technologies, a leading developer of USB software and network solutions today announced the licensing of Belcarra's CFF and USBLAN solutions for use in LevelStar's Icon™ handheld device.

Belcarra's Composite Function Framework (CFF) allows multiple USB functions to be loaded and configured at runtime as necessary. CFF not only provides a mass storage function, but also enables an Ethernet-style networking feature between the Icon and a desktop Windows XP or Windows Vista computer managed by Belcarra's USBLAN™ suite. Belcarra's USBLAN is a cross-platform suite connecting smart USB devices to Windows™, Mac OS/X and Linux desktops that can also unite multiple attached peripherals into a virtual Ethernet segment with all necessary management functions.

"The Belcarra USB solution allows our customers to easily move files and information between their desktop systems and their Icons, as well as access their home or office networks via a connected PC when a wireless network is not available. The flexibility of being able to easily switch between mass storage mode for moving files and information, and USB networking support for internet access via USB gives our customers one of the most flexible and easy-to-use solutions available on the market today," notes Marc Mulcahy, Product Manager at LevelStar.

Bruce Balden, President of Belcarra Technologies states, "USB was created to reduce cable clutter and increase speed and flexibility of host-to-device communications, but these improvements are rarely realized in today's smart devices. Instead, the common approach extends older non-USB solutions treating the device as just a fast serial port. In contrast, Belcarra's USB solution along with our network model, adds superior performance, ease of use and reliability. This is the reason for LevelStar's Icon using the USBLAN suite."

Balden continues, "With the network model comes standard network tools, such as the web browser, web server, ftp and other tools, all pretty much standard in network-aware systems today so there is no cost to the system developer for custom software to do these tasks and most applications 'just work' as they would on the desktop."

About LevelStar - LevelStar is dedicated to building leading edge assistive technology for the visually impaired. For more information visit www.levelstar.com.

About Belcarra - Belcarra Technologies (2005) Corp. provides comprehensive USB support that includes networking embedded devices over USB with desktop computers (MS Windows™, Mac OS/X and Linux). Belcarra's end-to-end, integrated host and target proprietary USB solutions are based on USB-IF (CDC) standards. For more information, please visit the Belcarra website www.belcarra.com or contact a representative at phone +1.604.617.3649.