.KEYWORD omnisky
.FLYINGHEAD FROM OUR SPONSOR
.TITLE OmniSky Minstrel V Modem connects the Palm V to email and the Internet
.SPONSOR
.SUMMARY If you’re a Palm V user, you’ll find that the OmniSky Minstrel V Modem is packed full of features you can use. The following article, provided by our sponsor, is an excerpt of a review which appeared originally in CNET. Read this article to find out how you can access the best the wireless Internet has to offer.
.AUTHOR OmniSky Corporation
.EDNOTE If you’re a Palm V user, you’ll find that the OmniSky Minstrel V Modem is packed full of features you can use. The following article, provided by our sponsor, is an excerpt of a review which appeared originally in CNET. Read this article to find out how you can access the best the wireless Internet has to offer.
As impressed as we were with the Palm VII’s built-in wireless modem, we were a bit disappointed by the limitations of the Palm.net service. But snap the $299 OmniSky Minstrel V Modem to the back of your Palm V, and you’ll have access not only to Palm.net but also to OmniSky’s wireless Web service and the rest of the Internet.
The tiny modem, styled to match the Palm V, adds less than half an inch to the thickness and length of the handheld, as you can see in Figure A.
.FIG A The OmniSky Minstrel V Modem is styled to match the Palm V.
.H1 Features
It’s able to communicate at 19.2 kbps on the CDPD network. While the hardware works well, surfing the wireless Web brings along its own set of issues. There isn’t a whole lot of coverage across the country as of yet, but most major cities have some. You’ll also have to readjust to the leisurely pace of wireless Web browsing. However, these problems plague all current wireless data services to some degree.
Once you’re connected, OmniSky’s service is top-notch. You can install any of the 300 or so Palm.net Web clipping applications. There’s one, for example, that will locate the nearest Starbucks. In addition, there’s a pretty healthy list of Web sites, such as eBay and Yahoo, that reformat their content so it looks good on the small, monochromatic display of Palm devices.
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.H1 Email
Of course, there’s a host of email options to try with the OmniSky modem. The service comes with an email address, or you can set it up to check the email from your Internet Service Provider (ISP). There’s no easy way to set the service up with your company’s corporate email system, though. OmniSky claims that the modem battery will last 12 hours, too, so if you leave it on, you’ll be notified when a new email arrives.
If email is too slow, you can use Yahoo Instant Messaging. Just sign in with your regular Yahoo login. We found it hard to keep up with people using keyboards and PCs, though. And, unfortunately, the modem attaches to a connector on the bottom of the Palm V, so you can’t use Palm’s portable keyboard when the modem is connected.
If you’re a Palm V user, you’ll find that the OmniSky modem is packed full of features you can use. However, the modem is pricey, and the $40-per-month service is only available in a few spots around the United States. (And you’ll find no service in Canada or Europe.) But wireless Internet access is still in its infancy. Of the devices available today, it’s the best of the bunch.
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
For more information on the OminSky Minstrel V Modem, visit http://www.omnisky.com.
For more information on CNET, visit http://www.cnet.com. CNET is a content partner, providing OmniSky users with news stories from News.com, one of our favorite Web sites.
.H1 Bulk reprints
Bulk reprints of this article (in quantities of 100 or more) are available for a fee from Reprint Services, a ZATZ business partner. Contact them at reprints@zatz.com or by calling 1-800-217-7874.
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO Headquartered in Palo Alto, California, OmniSky Corporation is a wireless service that allows users to securely access their primary email, extract a rich selection of content from the Internet and corporate intranets, and share their schedules remotely.
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