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Department of Technology Services Denver Public Schools




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Personal Digital Assistants

Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) have become valuable tools for many DPS staff members and they likewise have potential for good classroom and student applications. Effective August 1, 2003, DoTS began providing basic installation and computer to PDA synchronization support to DPS staff for district purchased PDAs that meet the brand name and model designations listed below. There are many brands and varieties of PDAs on the market, but in order to provide adequate support and training, DoTS will only support those brands included on the supported list below. After a thorough review process, these brands were selected based on their functionality, repair histories and the manufacturers’ support.
Supported PDA Hardware Pocket PC Devices (running the Windows CE operating system):

  1. Dell Axim
  2. Compaq iPAQ
Palm Devices (running the Palm operating system):
  1. Palm Branded PDAs
  2. AlphaSmart DANAs

The specific models recommended for purchase will be updated and listed on the DoTS Technology Purchasing Calculator web page: http://edtech.denver.k12.co.us:8080/calculator/

Supported PDA Software and Synchronization Functions

There are many software applications available for PDAs, but DoTS can only support those software applications that are installed on the PDAs when purchased. Additional PDA software applications will be considered for support after a review and/or pilot process is conducted by the DoTS Technology Architecture Review Committee (TARC). Synchronization between Outlook calendars and PCs will be supported (Macintoshes, at this time, do not have a supported Outlook calendar synchronization solution). Synching Outlook email messages between a PC and a PDA is not supported as this process has proven to be very problematic when tested in DPS.

Supported PDA Peripherals

Palm, Compaq and Dell Axim cradles.

Training and Support

DoTS has developed documentation that should provide new PDA users with all of the information they need to set up and use their PDAs in DPS. This documentation can be found at: If you have any questions, please contact the DoTS Hotline, 720-423-3888.