FileMaker, Inc. has announced FileMaker Mobile 8, a companion to FileMaker Pro 8 designed specifically for Palm OS and Windows Mobile Pocket PC handheld devices.

The new FileMaker Mobile 8 now goes beyond synchronizing with local desktop databases only, allowing users to synchronize handhelds with databases on FileMaker Server 8 and FileMaker Server 8 Advanced.

FileMaker Mobile 8 runs on the Palm Treo 650, and many other Palm and Windows Mobile compatible handheld devices, allowing individuals and mobile workgroups to extend the productivity of FileMaker solutions from the office to their handheld device.

FileMaker Mobile 8 supports a range of applications as simple as lists to more complex solutions such as inventory records, customer information, student records, work orders, research notes, or help-desk records. In addition to providing one-button, two-way synchronization, FileMaker Mobile 8 allows flexible data entry and viewing features.

With this new version handheld databases can be synchronized with several FileMaker databases, including FileMaker Pro 7, FileMaker Developer 7, FileMaker Pro 8, FileMaker Pro 8 Advanced, FileMaker Server 8, and FileMaker Server 8 Advanced.

The package includes six new ready-to-use mobile Starter Solutions, pre-designed and ready to synchronize with handheld devices, including Contact Management, Asset Management, Research Notes, Student Records, Movie Library, and Recipe Tracking.

FileMaker Mobile 8 is US$69 for a new license, or US$19 for an upgrade license.