If the PDA companies really cared...
Nov 17 '00
It's been about 3 years since the advent of the Palm (the original Pilot, manufactured by then USRobotics, a subsidiary of 3Com), and the precursor to PDAs, the Apple Newton. However, in terms of wireless technology, we are still in the stone age rubbing two sticks together. Let me first look at current wireless technology so I can give you a feel for how far we've come.
Currently there are a few options available for wireless PDAs, with the 2 main paths being either the PDA + a data enabled Cellular Phone (most of these run on GSM networks). This option is generally the easiest one and least costly for the consumer. However, it usually takes some proprietary software and/or hardware to even allow this setup. Palm finally introduced its long awaited 'Mobile Internet Kit' which is nothing more than the TDK GlobalPulse cable which has been out for over a year now. This requires a GSM phone and a Palm 3/V series PDA, $100 for the cable and costly/minute usage fees. Other options for the PDA+cell include homemade data cables, and the ability to surf wirelessly by means of the Infrared abilty of both your PDA and your cellular phone.
IR--a step back. Right now as I speak there are VERY FEW phones in the US which even offer an Infrared port. For example, in the US market, the Nokia 61xx series SEEMS to have an infrared port at the top. Don't be fooled folks, if you have ever taken off your cover you know there is NOTHING behind it. Why? Cost perhaps? Maybe they hate us americans, but if you go to the European market the 61xx series phone DOES have IR capabilities. New phones are offering this feature, (ie-Ericsson T28, Nokia 8xxx series and some Motorolas), but there is still the drawback of range. In order to use the phone with your PDA it needs to be on a level surface and the IR ports need to be no more than 3 inches from each other. Move them apart and your data connection is severed...kind of screwy eh?
For TRGPro Palms and PPCs and other non Palm PDAs the options are a little greater. Because of the Compact Flash port you can purchase CF wireless modems which also hook into your cellular phone to access the web. A FEW companies even offer wireless modems (Novatel, Sierra) which don't require you to have a cellular phone, they just plug into the CF port and go. This is where the future lies. Hybrid phones are a joke (look at the Nokia 9000 series...never heard of it eh...), as they are generally too big and bulky and don't offer much for a very high price.
Microsoft is even trying to get into the Hybrid market with its possible "Stinger" PDA/Cell Phone, this is a step in the right direction (yes, by Microsoft) for the first time for PDA/Cells. Why??? Because it's dang small! Every other combo has been a half pound brick since now.
It will be a while before this phone comes out, and other hybrids include the Handspring Cellular phone module which is first generation technology...wait a year or two on this folks.
So as I write this, the future does have some hope for wireless devices, but there are a few obstacles in its path:
1) Cellular phone networks in the US are constantly playing catch up. Current protocols are not very good for data access as the fastest achievable speed is limited to about 19.2kbps. Qualcomm is developing it's "HDR" (High Data Rate) wireless protocol, but nothig has come out yet. Before widespread FAST access is possible wirelessly, the phone networks NEED to upgrade (and choose a common protocol, not the GSM, CDMA, CDPD, etc etc. possibilties available today).
2) Costs. Prohibitive costs still impede the success of a omni-device. $.15/minute isn't exactly wonderful especially when it takes nearly a minute to dialup wirelessly to connect, and then at least 4 minutes to get email and send it. We're still at that stage where it's more like a rich person's toy than a viable option.
3) Many platforms are spreading out research. The Palm area is trying to go wirless using the cellular phone and expensive wireless modem add-ons, PPCs and WinCE devices generally are going for CF devices. And still other companies are trying their hand at Hybrid devices.
In the end it will probably be another 3 years before acceptable wireless service is available on your PDA. If you don't need the technology but are interested my advice is to WAIT it out.
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