.KEYWORD survey
.FLYINGHEAD WIRELESS ACCESS
.TITLE What wireless is what? A survey of wireless products
.FEATURE
.SUMMARY What type of hardware do you need to make your Palm handheld wireless. There are a number of different solutions out there, and Contributing Editor Steve Niles has broken them down in this useful article for anyone weighing their wireless options.
.AUTHOR Steve Niles
We’ve been talking a lot in this issue about the various forms of wireless technology, but we haven’t yet really explored the type of hardware you’ll need to make your Palm handheld wireless. There are a number of different options out there, and I’ll attempt to outline them here.
.H1 The Xircom Wireless LAN Module
If you’re just trying to connect to your LAN (Local Area Network) at home or in the office, the Xircom Wireless LAN Module for Palm m500 series handhelds (at http://www.xircom.com/cda/page/0,1298,0-0-1_1-1730,00.html) is just what you need. Be sure to look for the review of the device by Editor-in-Chief David Gewirtz elsewhere in this issue.
The module gives you wireless access to the Web, email, and network resources via 802.11b wireless technology. The module is a "sled" that slides onto the back of your Palm handheld, as you can see in Figure A.
.FIGPAIR A The Xircom Wireless LAN Module for Palm m500 series slides onto the Palm handheld.
The range of 802.11b is limited to a relatively short range-roughly the scope of the average office. If you’re looking to connect while on the go, you’re going to need a more wide range wireless solution.
.H1 Palm VIIx
The Palm VIIx (at http://www.palm.com/products/palmviix/) and its predecessor, the Palm VII, are classic examples of wirelessly enabled Palm handhelds. They possess all the functionality you’ve come to expect from the Palm OS, plus, by simply flipping up the built-in antenna, you’ve got instant wireless Internet and email access.
You can sign up for monthly service, just like with your cell phone, except that you pay by the amount of data you send or receive, rather than by the number of minutes you’re online. Palm.Net wireless service starts at $9.99 per month and goes up to $44.99 per month for unlimited wireless usage.
A big advantage of using your Palm VIIx to surf the Internet is that you can make use of Web clipping applications to grab just the information you want, making for much faster access. You can learn more about the various Web clipping applications available at http://www.palm.net.
.H1 OmniSky
If you own a Palm V series handheld, you’re not out of luck. OmniSky makes a modem accessory that can be easily attached to your Palm handheld in order to give it wireless capability. The modem is styled to match the Palm V and adds less than half an inch to the thickness and length of the handheld. The OmniSky Minstrel V Modem is pictured attached to a Palm V in Figure B.
.FIG B The OmniSky Minstrel V Modem provides wireless connectivity.
You can find more information on the OmniSky Minstrel V Modem at http://www.omnisky.com/discover/devices/palm.jhtml. To see how the OmniSky modem stacks up against the Palm VII, you can read Jason Perlow’s article, "OmniSky goes head-to-head with the Palm VII" in the February 2000 issue of PalmPower at http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200002/omnisky001.html.
A point that’s interesting to note is that with the OmniSky Minstrel V Modem, you’ll not only have access to Palm.Net, but also to OmniSky’s wireless Web service, which is available in 167 metropolitan areas in the United States.
The modem communicates at 19.2 kbps on the CDPD (Code Division Multiple Access) network. The service comes with an email address, or you can set it up to check the email from your ISP (Internet Service Provider). You can also use Yahoo Instant Messaging. The only drawback here is that the modem uses the same connector you’d need to attach a portable keyboard, so you couldn’t use both at the same time. You’d have to make do with Graffiti for your text input.
.H1 The Kyocera QCP 6035
Another way to connect your Palm handheld to the Internet is to use one of the many cables on the market to connect your handheld to your cell phone. However, if you’d prefer to have your phone and handheld functionality all in one convenient package, you’ve got options there as well.
The Kyocera QCP 6035 (at http://www.kyocera-wireless.com/kysmart/kysmart_series.htm) is what’s called a smartphone, a combination cellular phone and PDA (Personal Digital Assistant). In this case, the PDA functions are handled by the Palm OS. The device is pictured in Figure C.
.FIGPAIR C The Kyocera QCP 6035 combines a cell phone and a Palm OS handheld.
The Kyocera QCP 6035 was reviewed recently by Jason Thibeault in the July 2001 issue of PalmPower’s Enterprise Edition at http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com/issues/issue200107/kyocera001.html. It has 8MB of RAM, version 3.5 of the Palm OS, and supports Palm Web clipping applications. Besides wirelessly connecting to the Internet, though, smartphones have another big advantage. You can also use them to make phone calls, and you can dial directly from your Address Book. Multi-functionality is a beautiful thing.
.H1 The SPH-I300
Speaking of beautiful, Samsung has recently come out with its own cell phone/PDA combo in the form of the SPH-I300 Series handset (at http://samsungelectronics.com/mobile_phone/ads_awards/trade_shows/cebit_2001_pdaphone.html). Not only do you get the benefits listed above of having a Palm OS device combined with a wireless phone, but you also get a gorgeous color screen, as you can see in Figure D.
.FIGPAIR D The SPH-I300 features a stunning 256 color display.
The data capabilities include Web browsing (Openwave UP4.1), Web clipping available via Palm.Net, email, short message service, and data synchronization with a PC. SPH-I300 also includes infrared communication and 8 MB of memory for user data and applications.
The SPH-I300 was developed in conjunction with Palm and is compatible with all Palm OS-based applications. The hardware itself features a small top viewer for calling information such as caller ID, time, and roaming and power indicator. It also has a speakerphone so you can talk hands free. The SPH-I300 weighs 170g with a standard battery and measures 125 x 58 x 21 mm.
.PAGE
.H1 Conclusion
Any one of the above solutions would be an ideal way to access the Internet via a Palm OS device. It all depends on your own needs and preferences. Hopefully this brief survey of wireless hardware solutions will help you find the device that’s right for you.
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.H1 Product availability and resources
For more information on the Xircom Wireless LAN Module for Palm m500 series handhelds, visit http://www.xircom.com/cda/page/0,1298,0-0-1_1-1730,00.html.
For the article, "Connect to your network with the Xircom Wireless LAN Modem for the Palm m500 series," by Ray Rischpater in the September 2001 issue of PalmPower’s Enterprise Edition, visit http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com/issues/issue200109/xircom001.html.
For more information on the Palm VIIx, visit http://www.palm.com/products/palmviix/.
For more information on Web clipping applications available, visit http://www.palm.net.
For more information on the OmniSky Minstrel V Modem, visit http://www.omnisky.com/discover/devices/palm.jhtml.
For Jason Perlow’s article, "OmniSky goes head-to-head with the Palm VII," in the February 2000 issue of PalmPower, visit http://www.palmpower.com/issues/issue200002/omnisky001.html.
For more information on the Kyocera QCP 6035, visit http://www.kyocera-wireless.com/kysmart/kysmart_series.htm.
For Jason Thibeault’s article, "The Kyocera QCP 6035: a powerful tool for the enterprise," in the July 2001 issue of PalmPower’s Enterprise Edition, visit http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com/issues/issue200107/kyocera001.html.
For more information on the SPH-I300 Series handset, visit http://samsungelectronics.com/mobile_phone/ads_awards/trade_shows/cebit_2001_pdaphone.html.
For more information on Palm handhelds, visit http://www.palm.com.
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